European Union ceasefire monitors in Georgia said Sunday that they had come under fire near the rebel region of Abkhazia while investigating the killing of a police officer.

The European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) said in a statement that `heavy shooting erupted and some bullets fell close to the mission personnel` while monitors were investigating the killing of a Georgian police officer Saturday near the border with Abkhazia.

`It was not clear whether they were aimed at (EU monitors) intentionally, but this action is unacceptable, the EUMM is an unarmed civilian mission,` the statement said.

No-one was injured in the attack.

Abkhazia and South Ossetia, another Georgian separatist province, were the scene of a brief conflict between Russia and Georgia in August that was sparked by an attempt by Georgia to retake control of South Ossetia.

A ceasefire brokered by the EU has been in place since August and EU monitors are patrolling areas near Abkhazia and South Ossetia but shootings and other security incidents remain frequent.