MOSCOW, July 5 (Reuters) - A "new war" could break out in Georgia's breakaway region of Abkhazia if Tbilisi uses military force to resolve the conflict, Russian media reported on Saturday, quoting the Russian Defence Ministry.

Separatist leader Sergei Bagapsh accused Georgia on Saturday of planning to take over the region by force earlier this year, though the operation did not come to fruition.

"Such plans by Tbilisi can only be seen as yet another step towards further escalating the tensions in the region, which will bring the conflict into a new war," RIA Novosti agency quoted the Defence Ministry as saying. (Reporting by Amie Ferris-Rotman and Thomas Peter)

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