Georgian breakaway region reportedly shot down spy plane

MOSCOW, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Georgia's breakaway region of Abkhazia on Tuesday showed debris of an unmanned reconnaissance aircraft, saying it was shot down earlier that day, according to reports reaching here.

"The aircraft was produced by the Israeli company Elbit Systems. Its serial number is 551. The aircraft belonged to the Georgian Air Force," Itar-Tass news agency quoted regional defense chief Garri Kupalba as saying.

The senior official said that Georgia's unmanned spy planes kicked off mission over Abkhazia since last summer.

The Georgian defense ministry, however, has denied Abkhazia's accusation, saying none of its aircraft was shot down on Tuesday.