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Condoleezza Rice, the US Secretary of State, was heading for Georgia today to spearhead a dual diplomatic and humanitarian effort designed to display American support for the country in its conflict with Russia.
However, there was some confusion as to whether Russian forces would, as promised, move out of Gori, the battered strategic city abandoned by the Georgians earlier this week in the face of military onslaught.
Russian military officials said today that they would start to return control of Gori to Georgia soon, as agreed in a French-brokered ceasefire. The city is located near the rebel region of South Ossetia, over which the Georgians tried to regain control last week, and controls the main route between eastern and western Georgia.
“For another two days Russian troops will stay in the region to ... hand over control functions to Georgian law-enforcement bodies, after which they will leave,” Major-General Vyacheslav Borisov told reporters in Moscow.
A Georgian official complained, however, that Russia was already backtracking on the ceasefire deal. “All night they said they would leave and now they have changed their mind. Georgian forces have stopped (going to Gori) to avoid clashes with the Russians,” Interior Ministry spokesman Shota Utiashvili told the AFP news agency. The Foreign Ministry also accused Russia of deploying extra troops in Gori and stepping up its presence in the port of Poti.
An AFP reporter on the road about 30km from Gori saw up to 20 Georgian armoured personnel carriers go through a police checkpoint towards the town before pulling up by the side of the road a little further on.
In his first major statement on the crisis, President Bush demanded yesterday that Russia respect the ceasefire accord brokered by President Sarkozy of France, under which both sides must retire to their positions before fighting erupted last Thursday night.
He also announced large-scale humanitarian assistance to be led by the US military - two US military cargo planes were reported to have landed in Tbilisi this morning - and said that he was sending Dr Rice to Georgia to help secure peace.
The Secretary of State is expected in Georgia tonight after a brief stop in Paris to discuss the crisis with President Sarkozy. Mr Bush says that he fully backs the European Union's mediation efforts.
“The United States of America stands with the democratically elected government of Georgia, insists that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia be respected,” Mr Bush said in a statement at the White House.
He scolded Moscow for its attacks on Georgia, and warned it had put Russia’s post-Cold War relations with the West “at risk". “To begin to repair the damage to its relations with the United States, Europe, and other nations, and to begin restoring its place in the world, Russia must keep its word and act to end this crisis,” he declared.
In Gori, Major-General Borisov denied Georgian claims that there had been looting and widespread destruction. “There’s been some talk that the city is destroyed, that there is looting,” he said, “Everything is normal. There is even electricity.”
However, Russia’s state Interfax news agency reported that two looters had been executed by firing squad in South Ossetia itself.
“In the past few there were some facts of looting on the territory of the republic,” Boris Chochiyev, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russia-backed separatist region, told the agency.
“Yesterday our law-enforcement bodies shot dead two looters caught red handed. Today we will handle the issue even tougher.”
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I presume the United States is an easy target. When something fails blame the United States. Let's look at the facts, the Russians violated the sovereignty of Georgia and the French negotiated the cease fire. The United States, again, is responisble for cleaning up the situation.
Bo Ames, Newport, United States
Russia shows an example how to deal with autocracies.
On Aug 8 Georgia killed 2000 out of 30000 population Tchinvali in 8 hour under cover of Olympic opening.
In 2 days Russia crush Georgia military. In 5 fighting stooped. I wish the same would be done in Rwanda, Darfur, Chad etc.
SKV, NYC, USA
I am puzzled by many of these comments. Human Rights Watch disputes the claimed casualty figures but even if true, given Russia's objective was humanitarian aid to South Ossetia, why have they now moved into Georgia itself.? Georgia is an independent country these days, why shouldn't it join NATO?
Mrs B, London, UK
Western media seems to have decided some time ago that America=Good and Russia=Bad
Where was Ms. Rice when Georgia attacked South Ossetia? On holiday?
Fortunately, a lot of your readers seem to be able to see through this smokescreen. Thank God for the Internet!
Alfred, Isle of Wight, UK
Well, with Condoleezza on the job, we know it will fail.
This situation reflects not Russian aggression but America's reckless expansion.
The international policies of this administration are a complete disaster from beginning to end.
JOHN CHUCKMAN, Toronto, Canada
Once again George Bush demonstrates his international negotiating skills. Send in the troops. Lets hope the world can survive the remaining term of his presidency and allow a new leader to bring some sanity into American foreign policy.
Arthur, Bracknell, Berkshire
How the US expects russia to back down when theyre are threating them with sending in arms is beyond me. well now that rice is there, theres sure to be war as soon as she leaves..... people are moaning about what russia could do, what about the 2000 dead georgians in South Ossetia.
Muz, Manchester, UK
Georgia has done exactly what Russia wanted it to do the russians laid the bait perfectly offering citezenship to South Ossetians, daring Georgia to intervene,they did and russia closed the trap. The losers are the Ossetians pawns in russias game, they'll never get independence from russia or georga
Christopher Kimberley, London, UK
Neither Russian, nor Georgian government looks good in the situation because killing of civilians is not an appropriate way of solving domestical and international problems.However the USA looks far worse since it supported and encouraged an unbalanced Georgian leader to reach its own goals.
olga, St. Petersburg, Russia
Agree with Horace but also:
So called "western free media" see things black and white. USA =good guys and Russia=bad guys. Let the Russian view be seen .
In my view, USA and Russia are almost identical. It is bad to be attacked by any of these two but it is maybe even worse to be defended by them.
Aleksandar, Bar, Montenegro
Georgia may have started this and that may be looked upon later as foolish, but its pretty clear Russia didn't support the separatists out of the goodness of their hearts - they supported them because it acted as a convenient wedge to drive into Georgia.
James, Las Vegas, NV, USA
I love it when people immediately attack a policy or stance, simply because they dislike the politician that uttered it. I personally don't care for GWB myself, but I still want him to do the right thing.
I think this is the most educated foreign policy decision he's made.
James, Las Vegas, NV, USA
Has anyone mentioned the Falklands War yet, not to mention Northern Ireland?
How much of the US rhetoric against Russia in this crisis could equally well have applied to the US itself in invading Iraq?
And how has all this helped in the most important conflict of all, the War against Terrorism?
Dick, Durham, UK
It's absolutely clear that US goverment supports pro-American regime.
If the regime does not suite US they change it. As it was in Georgia, Ukrain, Iraq. And I am doubt that all this contries have "democratically elected government", that US going to protect in Georgia.
Evgneny, Chelyabinsk, Russia
Georgia isn't Russia's sphere of influence either. It's a sovereign nation. The world had seen plenty of independent evidence of ethnic-cleansing in the Balkans before NATO intervened in Kosovo. Western reporters now on the ground seem to be contradicting the officially-inspired Russian media.
Bill, Oxford, England
Neither Russian, nor Georgian government looks good in the situation because killing of civilians is not an appropriate way of solving domestical and international problems.However the USA looks far worse since it supported and encouraged an unbalanced Georgian leader to reach its own goals.
Olga, St. Petersburg, Russia
The Russians should pull out of Georgia when The US pulls out of Afghanistan, Iraq, Kosovo and Cuba (Guantanamo Bay).
How does Bush have the cheek to lecture Russia? They have just had 1600 civilians killed.
Bob
Bob , Bradford,
Nathan hit it on the button! The UK should concentrate on Nato and Homeland Security - not on spending billions on 'Bella Figura' items like 2012 Olympic Games. Russia is on the march. What will come first - Russia rolling in Europe , or China rolling into Russia ! Nimby Britain , Waken Up !
Hugh, Newton Abbot, England
I think that Russians and Georgians have made a deal, with the first part getting control over South Ossetia and the second part getting into NATO. Next, Russians will find foreign weapons in Ossetia and Georgia to justify their brotherly help, and then they will lobby for annexing South Ossetia.
Axel von Delwig, Newcastle, UK
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/08/14/georgia.russia.war/index.html
Doesn't that contradicts a lot?
The same story told with quite another attitude is a quite another story. Don't you think?
And, people...don't belive everything you read...
Rgs,
George
George, Moscow, Russia
Yesterday our law-enforcement bodies shot dead two looters caught red handed. Today we will handle the issue even tougher.
? Thay are dead ! how tougher can it get?
Helen, Leeds,
Such stubbornly inadequate reaction of Bush and Rice on Saakashvilis fiasco may be explained. It looks like his failure to hinder Americans agenda in a forthcoming war against Iran. Most likely they expected to use Georgians airdromes to bomb Iran.
Alexey, Moscow,
what is the point to "say" something if you do not show that???
leave your democracy to yourself
scoty, Portsmouth ,UK,
Georgia is not our sphere of influence. The USSR had no right in 1962 regarding Cuba and the west has no right here. I don't like the Russian Govt. thought pattern but they are now stable and unpredictably predictable. I feel we and the first secretary Putin will live together just fine.
steve, London, GB
It is not rusophobia. It is clean calculation. And we are not so naive. Russia from several years is mixing in to internal affairs of their neighbors (bye gas, by mixing in to elections, by threating with their rockets) if you call it keeping stability then you are blind.
Karolina, Katowice, PL
This has been a deliberate manoeuvre by Georgia to involve the United States in its affairs. We all know that the Russians are no saints (!), but let us not forget that Georgia started this business and Russia, for whatever self-serving motive, has responded.
Daniela, London, Italy and UK
And why on earth is George W. Bush lecturing the world on the morality of Russias actions? How dare he cite intelligence"? Is this the same intelligence that fuelled the case for war with Iraq? He would learn a great deal from observing the negotiation skills of Frances President Sarkozy!
Daniela, London, Italy and UK
Europe needs to act. We have put ourselves into a frightening position of dependence on and political ransom to Russia.
But what if Russia did take Tiblisi? What could we do... nothing but whimper!
We need greater fuel security and a coherent means of protecting European interests and members.
nathan, Cambridge, UK
i think Condoleezza need to be fired
Alexei, Moscow, Russia
If Britain and Eastern Europe don't accept what western continental Europe has already accepted, that Russia is a necessary variable in the equation of stability in Europe, and stick to their russophobic mentality fueled by Washington, the risk is a war in the heart of our continent.
Horace, Florence, Tuscany, Italy