BUCHAREST, August 11, 2008 (AFP) - The Romanian foreign ministry issued a warning to Romanians on Monday not to travel to Georgia, and to the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abhkazia in particular.

'The security situation in these countries is continually deteriorating following the violent fighting that has taken place in South Ossetia since August 7,' the ministry wrote in a special travel warning published on its website.

It also recommended Romanian nationals to avoid travelling to border areas in Chechnya.

On Sunday, Bucharest said it was ready to evacuate around 50 Romanian nationals currently in Georgia, but said that such a move was not necessary 'at the moment'.

The ministry said the Romanian ambassador in Tbilisi was in contact with Romanian nationals in the country, but none of them had yet asked to leave.