London, Rome - Britain and Italy criticised Tuesday Russia's decision to recognize the independence of Georgia's rebel regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry in London said that the British government "categorically rejects" the Russian decision.

On Tuesday Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev signed a decree recognizing the breakaway regions' independence after Russian lawmakers on Monday unanimously passed a resolution to that effect.

The decision won't improve the prospects for peace in the Caucasus region, the spokesman said, adding that Britain supports the "sovereignty and internal integrity of Georgia."

Meanwhile Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini described the Russian recognition as "unilateral" and outside the framework of "international legality." (dpa)