Georgia leader scraps Russia trip over rebel region

Georgian forces are in an armed standoff with separatists in the South Ossetia region who, Saakashvili says, are backed by Russia. Two bomb attacks last week sparked fears the confrontation could escalate into war.

Saakashvili had hoped he and Putin could discuss South Ossetia and other sources of friction between Georgia and Russia at an informal summit of ex-Soviet heads of state that would have included a visit to a Moscow horsetrack.

But reporters gathered at Tbilisi's airport to fly with Saakashvili to Moscow were told at the last minute the trip was canceled. Georgian officials said the Kremlin had told them there was no time for a one-on-one meeting.

"Horseracing is a good show, but it's not the place to discuss serious issues and take serious decisions," said Georgian Foreign Minister Gela Bezhuashvili.

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