AFP - Russia has authorised the first direct flights from the Georgian capital of Tbilisi since the two countries' brief war in August 2008, the transport ministry said, Russian news agencies reported.

"The decision was taken to authorise Georgian Airways company charter flights on December 29 and 30," said a ministry statement cited by agencies.

The flights would serve Moscow and Saint Petersburg, it said.

Direct flights have been suspended since the two countries went to war over the Russian-backed separatist Georgian region of South Ossetia.

The ministry had also asked the Georgian airline about its transport needs for charter flights between January 5 and 10, which are public holidays in Russia.

But Georgian Airways, which last week had asked Russia to lift its flights embargo, said that no charter flights would be done on December 29 and 30.

"As we have obtained the authorization too late, we will not have the time to organise flights tomorrow and the day after tomorrow," Georgian Airways' spokeswoman Nino Girgobiani told AFP.

"The charter flights will be launched between January 6 and 25, from Tbilisi to Moscow and Saint-Petersburg," Girgobiani said.

But they had not received a Russian response concerning regular flights, she added.

Moscow's announcement was the latest sign of an easing of tension in relations between the two countries.

On Thursday, Georgia and Russia announced they had agreed to re-open their land border to traffic.

After mediation by Switzerland, they agreed to open the land crossing at Upper Lars -- the only one that does not pass through either South Ossetia or Abkhazia, the other separatist Georgian region.

Fighting erupted in August 2008, when Russian forces poured into Georgia to repel a Georgian military attempt to retake South Ossetia.

Russian forces later mostly withdrew to within South Ossetia and Abkhazia, both of which Moscow recognised as independent states, a move so far followed by only Nicaragua, Venezuela and the Pacific island state of Nauru.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev hinted at a thaw in relations with Georgia this month, saying he saw "no obstacles" to opening the border crossing and resuming flights between Russia and Georgia.

Russia cut air links with Georgia during the war, only four months after they had resumed following an 18-month embargo.