MOSCOW, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- The foreign ministry of Georgia on Saturday announced to break off diplomatic relations with Nicaragua in protest against its recognition of the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, two breakaway Georgian regions, the Caucasus Press news agency said.

    The decision was taken in view of Nicaragua's recognition of the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia on Sept. 2, the Georgian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

    "The Georgian leadership has decided to suspend the effect of a protocol on establishing diplomatic relations with the Republic of Nicaragua signed on Sept. 19, 1994," the ministry was quoted by Interfax as saying.

    The ministry has handed over a relevant note to the Nicaraguan mission at the United Nations.

    South Ossetia and Abkhazia, Georgia's autonomous prefecture and autonomous republic respectively, broke from central Georgian rule in the early 1990s following the collapse of the former Soviet Union.

    Nicaragua was the second country after Russia to recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states following a brief war between Russia and Georgia in August.

    Moscow recognized the two regions as independent states on Aug.26.