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| US forces to deliver Georgia aid | US forces to deliver Georgia aid |
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| President George W Bush has said the US will use military aircraft and naval forces to deliver aid to Georgia following its conflict with Russia. | President George W Bush has said the US will use military aircraft and naval forces to deliver aid to Georgia following its conflict with Russia. |
| He also urged Russia to respect a ceasefire agreement with Georgia. | He also urged Russia to respect a ceasefire agreement with Georgia. |
| President Bush said the US was concerned about reports of continuing Russian military action in Georgia. | President Bush said the US was concerned about reports of continuing Russian military action in Georgia. |
| US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is to fly to France for talks with Nicolas Sarkozy before travelling to the Georgian capital Tbilisi. | US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is to fly to France for talks with Nicolas Sarkozy before travelling to the Georgian capital Tbilisi. |
| Mr Bush said the US was launching a "vigorous and ongoing" humanitarian mission. | Mr Bush said the US was launching a "vigorous and ongoing" humanitarian mission. |
| See map of the region | See map of the region |
| A C-17 aircraft with humanitarian supplies was already on its way to Georgia, and in the following days the US would use military aircraft and naval forces to deliver humanitarian and medical supplies, Mr Bush said. | A C-17 aircraft with humanitarian supplies was already on its way to Georgia, and in the following days the US would use military aircraft and naval forces to deliver humanitarian and medical supplies, Mr Bush said. |
| "We expect Russia to honour its commitment to allow in all forms of humanitarian assistance," he said. | "We expect Russia to honour its commitment to allow in all forms of humanitarian assistance," he said. |
| Action 'necessary' | Action 'necessary' |
| The US president's address at the White House came amid reports that violence has flared in Georgia, where Russian tanks have been seen patrolling the town of Gori, near the breakaway region of South Ossetia. | The US president's address at the White House came amid reports that violence has flared in Georgia, where Russian tanks have been seen patrolling the town of Gori, near the breakaway region of South Ossetia. |
| Russia must keep its word and act to end this crisis President George W Bush EU plans Georgia peace monitorsIn pictures: Tskhinvali in ruins The crisis erupted late on 7 August when Georgian forces bombarded South Ossetia to restore Tbilisi's control over the region, where the majority of people hold Russian passports. Russia quickly became involved, bombing targets in Georgia and sending troops to South Ossetia. | Russia must keep its word and act to end this crisis President George W Bush EU plans Georgia peace monitorsIn pictures: Tskhinvali in ruins The crisis erupted late on 7 August when Georgian forces bombarded South Ossetia to restore Tbilisi's control over the region, where the majority of people hold Russian passports. Russia quickly became involved, bombing targets in Georgia and sending troops to South Ossetia. |
| A French-brokered ceasefire has been in place between Russia and Georgia since Tuesday, but it seems to be very fragile, correspondents say. | A French-brokered ceasefire has been in place between Russia and Georgia since Tuesday, but it seems to be very fragile, correspondents say. |
| Mr Bush said the reports of ongoing Russian actions had "raised serious questions about its intentions in Georgia and the region". | Mr Bush said the reports of ongoing Russian actions had "raised serious questions about its intentions in Georgia and the region". |
| "The United States stands with the democratically elected government of Georgia and insists that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia be respected," he said. | "The United States stands with the democratically elected government of Georgia and insists that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia be respected," he said. |
| "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." | "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." |
| Russia said its forces had dismantled and destroyed military hardware and ammunition at an undefended Georgian military base near Gori on Wednesday, in the interest of demilitarising the conflict zone. | Russia said its forces had dismantled and destroyed military hardware and ammunition at an undefended Georgian military base near Gori on Wednesday, in the interest of demilitarising the conflict zone. |
| Russian and Georgian forces have been seen on the main Gori-Tbilisi road | Russian and Georgian forces have been seen on the main Gori-Tbilisi road |
| Russian defence officials also said the Russian military had shot down a Georgian spy drone over the South Ossetian capital, Tskhinvali, and accused the Georgians of continuing military activities despite the ceasefire deal. | Russian defence officials also said the Russian military had shot down a Georgian spy drone over the South Ossetian capital, Tskhinvali, and accused the Georgians of continuing military activities despite the ceasefire deal. |
| Speaking to the BBC, Russia's First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov said attacks by Russian forces on Georgian military targets outside the South Ossetia region were both legal and necessary. | Speaking to the BBC, Russia's First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov said attacks by Russian forces on Georgian military targets outside the South Ossetia region were both legal and necessary. |
| He said Russia had to destroy Georgian artillery systems and bomb military airports in order to protect its peacekeepers in South Ossetia, a number of whom had already been killed by Georgian forces. | He said Russia had to destroy Georgian artillery systems and bomb military airports in order to protect its peacekeepers in South Ossetia, a number of whom had already been killed by Georgian forces. |
| Mr Ivanov denied that the goal of the Russian action had been to topple the Georgian President, Mikhail Saakashvili. | Mr Ivanov denied that the goal of the Russian action had been to topple the Georgian President, Mikhail Saakashvili. |
| Russian armoured vehicles have been seen in Gori and on the main highway linking Gori to Tbilisi, although both Moscow and Georgian officials have denied that they are moving towards Tbilisi. | Russian armoured vehicles have been seen in Gori and on the main highway linking Gori to Tbilisi, although both Moscow and Georgian officials have denied that they are moving towards Tbilisi. |
| The BBC's Gavin Hewitt, outside Gori, says residents of the town have spoken of their houses being torched. | The BBC's Gavin Hewitt, outside Gori, says residents of the town have spoken of their houses being torched. |
| European Union foreign ministers in Brussels said they planned to send a group of monitors or peacekeepers to Georgia to monitor the ceasefire - but they want the United Nations to back the proposal first. | |
| "We are determined to act on the ground," said French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner. | "We are determined to act on the ground," said French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner. |
| UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the UN was ready to facilitate international talks and contribute to possible peacekeeping arrangements in the region. | |
| Moscow called a halt to military action on Tuesday, shortly before a meeting between French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. Russia and Georgia have agreed to a peace plan. | Moscow called a halt to military action on Tuesday, shortly before a meeting between French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. Russia and Georgia have agreed to a peace plan. |
| Some 100,000 people are estimated to have been displaced by the conflict, which has created huge tensions in international relations. | Some 100,000 people are estimated to have been displaced by the conflict, which has created huge tensions in international relations. |
| Back to story | Back to story |