This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/7559252.stm

The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
US forces to deliver Georgia aid US forces to deliver Georgia aid
(about 2 hours later)
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. Speaking in Washington, he expressed concern about reports of continuing Russian action in Georgia, and urged Russia to respect a ceasefire accord.
President Bush said the US was concerned about reports of continuing Russian military action in Georgia. Mr Bush hinted that Russia could be jeopardising its international ties.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is to fly to France for talks with Nicolas Sarkozy before travelling to the Georgian capital Tbilisi. The Kremlin said the US must choose between partnership with Moscow, or with the Georgian leadership.
Mr Bush said the US was launching a "vigorous and ongoing" humanitarian mission. "At some time it will be necessary to choose between supporting this virtual project and [a] real partnership on questions which actually require collective action," said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
name="link"> class="bodl" href="#map">See map of the region The BBC's Caroline Wyatt, in Moscow, says the Kremlin's reaction suggests they have been bitterly stung by Mr Bush's comments.
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. Mr Lavrov appears as determined to talk tough as Mr Bush - in the knowledge that the US is unlikely to back up its verbal support for Georgia with any more concrete action, our correspondent adds. name="link"> class="bodl" href="#map">See map of the region
Mr Bush said he had ordered a series of steps to demonstrate "solidarity with the Georgian people".
They included sending Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to Tbilisi, and launching a "vigorous and ongoing" humanitarian mission.
He said a C-17 aircraft with humanitarian supplies was already on its way to Georgia, and in the following days military aircraft and naval forces would deliver humanitarian and medical supplies.
"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 class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7558537.stm">EU plans Georgia peace monitors class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7559270.stm">In 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. Mr Lavrov responded robustly to US criticism of Russia's continuing military action, admitting that his troops were still inside Georgia near both Gori and the town of Senaki, near the other secessionist region of Abkhazia.
A French-brokered ceasefire has been in place between Russia and Georgia since Tuesday, but it seems to be very fragile, correspondents say. He said Russian peacekeepers were dismantling a "huge amount of armaments, ammunition and explosives" that had been left unattended. Russia must keep its word and act to end this crisis President George W Bush class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7558537.stm">EU plans Georgia peace monitors class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7559270.stm">In pictures: Tskhinvali in ruins
Mr Bush said the reports of ongoing Russian actions had "raised serious questions about its intentions in Georgia and the region". "This arsenal has to be defused of course so that it cannot pose any threat to civilians," 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. 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 each side has accused the other of breaking the accord.
Mr Bush said Russia's actions had "raised serious questions about its intentions in Georgia and the region".
"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. 'Massacres on our doorstep'
France, which currently holds the EU presidency, has been spearheading diplomatic efforts aimed at solving the crisis.
President Nicolas Sarkozy visited both Tbilisi and Moscow on Tuesday, and succeeded in getting both sides to agreed to the principles of a peace plan.
Russian and Georgian forces have been seen on the main Gori-Tbilisi roadRussian 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 President Dmitry Medvedev had announced a halt to military action shortly before meeting Mr Sarkozy.
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. EU foreign ministers have been discussing the peace plan, and have agreed to send a group of monitors or peacekeepers to Georgia to monitor the ceasefire - but they want the UN to back the proposal first.
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. "The European Union cannot be indifferent to this war, these massacres on our doorstep," said French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner.
Mr Ivanov denied that the goal of the Russian action had been to topple the Georgian President, Mikhail Saakashvili. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said the UN was ready to facilitate international talks and contribute to possible peacekeeping arrangements in the region.
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.
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.
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.
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 storyBack to story