American Marconi Wireless News - Georgia's breakaway region to hold referendum on joining Russia in July: leader

"Anatoly Bibilov signed a decree on holding a referendum in the Republic of South Ossetia," his office said in a statement, citing his people's "historic aspiration" to join Russia.

South Ossetia was in the centre of the Russian-Georgian war in 2008 after which the Kremlin recognised the territory -- along with another separatist region, Abkhazia -- as an independent state and stationed military bases there.

The announcement came on the 79th day of Russia's military campaign in Ukraine, with thousands killed and more than six million people fleeing the pro-Western country.

Ukraine's separatist regions of Donetsk and Lugansk have also expressed interest in joining Russia.

The full-scale offensive on Ukraine has sparked an outpouring of solidarity in Georgia.

Georgia has previously denounced as "unacceptable" plans by South Ossetia to hold a referendum on joining Russia.

In August 2008, Russia launched an assault against Georgia which was battling pro-Russian militia in South Ossetia, after they shelled Georgian villages.

The fighting ended five days later with a European Union-mediated ceasefire but claimed more than 700 lives and displaced tens of thousands of ethnic Georgians.

L.Durand--AMWN