AFP
August 26, 2008 Tuesday 7:56 PM GMT

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev wrote to Western leaders to explain that Moscow was about to recognise the independence of Georgia's Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions, the ANSA agency said Tuesday.

Recipients of the letter included US President George W. Bush, his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian news agency said, citing government sources.

However, the agency did not include information about the letter's content.

Western leaders strongly condemned Russia's recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia earlier Tuesday, calling it an unacceptable violation of international law.

Bush warned Moscow that it must reconsider its "irresponsible decision," as it was exacerbating tensions in the region.