Abkhazi authorities have rejected a German peace plan and demanded that Georgia withdraw troops.

Below is an article published by ABC News :

MOSCOW - A German plan to resolve the conflict between Georgia and [the] region of Abkhazia has been rejected by the [authorities].

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier met with Abkhaz leaders in the disputed region to outline his peace plan.

The president of the self-declared republic, Sergei Bagapsh, has said the plan is unacceptable.

He says there can be no talks to resolve the conflict until Georgia withdraws troops from a part of Abkhazia called the Kodori Gorge.

Recent weeks have seen an escalation in tensions between Georgia, Abkhazia, and another breakaway region, South Ossetia, and European countries are concerned that it could lead to war.