Putin warns Georgia risks bloodshed in breakaway areas

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http://www.swissinfo.org/eng/international/ticker/detail/Putin_warns_Georgia_risks_bloodshed_in_breakaway_areas.html?siteSect=143&sid=7180804&cKey=1161373994000

LAHTI, Finland (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin called on Georgia on Friday to calm a dispute with Russian-backed breakaway regions in the former Soviet republic or risk see it turn into bloodshed.

Earlier, European Union leaders agreed to deliver a blunt message to Putin at a summit dinner in Finland that Russia must give European firms more chance to exploit its huge energy resources or risk an investor exodus.

Putin put the onus on Georgia to end a Moscow-Tbilisi standoff when the EU leaders raised their concerns about Russia's blockade of its small neighbour over a spying dispute.

"This is what we are calling for. This is what we want ... and that bloodshed will be avoided," Putin told a news conference.