Rowdy party nearly triggers Russian attack

A rowdy wedding party nearly triggered a Russian naval attack after guests fired pistols and flare guns into the air on Georgia's disputed Abkhazian coast.

The Azov amphibious assault warship thought it was coming under fire from Georgian forces and radioed for permission to open fire on the 'attack', reported Russia's RIA Novosti news agency.

But just as they'd fired up the engines to head for deeper water and their guns' optimum range, authorities in Port Athos managed to contact them and reveal it was just a party.

The Azov was on its last day of combat duty in the troubled area before returning to base in Sebastapol when the incident occurred.

"The ship was put on immediate combat alert, and the main engine was started up. We were about to go to the high seas but first we had to receive authorisation to open fire," said one of the crew.

A duty officer at the Black Sea port confirmed: "This was a wedding - it is our custom. We are now working to calm them down in the future."

Abkhazia is one of the flashpoints of the West's new troubles with Russia. The semi-independent state wants to break away from Georgia and has been supported by Russia.

EU officials inspecting the area recently had to flee gunfire and a build up of Russian warships in the Black Sea has put the whole area on alert.

"Nerves are very frayed in this part of the world. They're lucky not to have been shelled by the Russian Navy," said one port authority source.

-Nova