Construction of a gas pipeline that will link Russia’s North Ossetia with Georgia’s breakaway South Ossetia was launched on October 27, RIA Novosti and Itar-Tass news agencies reported.

South Ossetian leader Eduard Kokoity and Head of the North Ossetian Republic Teimuraz Mamsurov attended an official ceremony to launch the construction of the Dzaurikau-Tskhinvali gas pipeline.

Some of the sections of the 163-km long pipeline will be constructed at 3 000 meters above sea level.

Construction is expected to be finished by the end of 2007.

Breakaway South Ossetia currently receives gas from the territory controlled by the Georgian central authorities.

Georgian Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze called on the international community on October 27 to condemn, as she put it “illegal construction of pipeline on Georgia’s territory."