MOSCOW, Aug 12 (Reuters) - Georgia's separatist region of Abkhazia has launched a military offensive to force Georgian troops out of the upper part of the disputed Kodori gorge, Russia's Interfax news agency reported on Tuesday.

It quoted the Abkhaz defence ministry as saying the rebel region started the operation at 6:00 a.m. (0200 GMT). It gave no further details. (Writing by Maria Golovnina; Editing by Matthew Jones)

AlertNet news is provided by