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| Russia digs in amid pullout calls | Russia digs in amid pullout calls |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Russian forces have tightened their control of a key highway in Georgia, a day after signing a formal ceasefire. | Russian forces have tightened their control of a key highway in Georgia, a day after signing a formal ceasefire. |
| Russian control on the road from the Black Sea to the capital ends just 30km from Tbilisi, a BBC correspondent says. | Russian control on the road from the Black Sea to the capital ends just 30km from Tbilisi, a BBC correspondent says. |
| The US has demanded Russian troops pull out but Moscow says it will only withdraw from Georgian territory once extra security measures are in place. | The US has demanded Russian troops pull out but Moscow says it will only withdraw from Georgian territory once extra security measures are in place. |
| Earlier, France's president warned Moscow the ceasefire barred its forces from any "major urban area" in Georgia. | Earlier, France's president warned Moscow the ceasefire barred its forces from any "major urban area" in Georgia. |
| And in a letter addressed to his Georgian counterpart, Nicolas Sarkozy said the ceasefire stipulated that the security measures "in no way limit or put in danger the freedom of movement and travel along the road and rail axes of Georgia" and could not be applied in any towns or cities. | |
| PEACE PLAN No more use of forceStop all military actions for goodFree access to humanitarian aidGeorgian troops return to their places of permanent deploymentRussian troops to return to pre-conflict positionsInternational talks about future status of South Ossetia and Abkhazia Russia in control and on moveGeorgians rally behind leaderDay-by-day: Georgia-Russia crisis "I am particularly thinking of the city of Gori," he said, referring to a town near the breakaway region of South Ossetia where Russian troops are deployed. | PEACE PLAN No more use of forceStop all military actions for goodFree access to humanitarian aidGeorgian troops return to their places of permanent deploymentRussian troops to return to pre-conflict positionsInternational talks about future status of South Ossetia and Abkhazia Russia in control and on moveGeorgians rally behind leaderDay-by-day: Georgia-Russia crisis "I am particularly thinking of the city of Gori," he said, referring to a town near the breakaway region of South Ossetia where Russian troops are deployed. |
| However, Russian troops do have the right to patrol "a few kilometres" beyond the conflict zone in South Ossetia, he said. | However, Russian troops do have the right to patrol "a few kilometres" beyond the conflict zone in South Ossetia, he said. |
| Conflict between Georgia and Russia erupted on 7 August when Georgia launched an assault to retake its Russian-backed separatist province of South Ossetia. | Conflict between Georgia and Russia erupted on 7 August when Georgia launched an assault to retake its Russian-backed separatist province of South Ossetia. |
| It led to a massive counter-offensive by Russia, with Russia moving deeper into Georgian territory. | It led to a massive counter-offensive by Russia, with Russia moving deeper into Georgian territory. |
| See map of the region | See map of the region |
| Mr Sarkozy brokered the ceasefire between Georgia and Russia on behalf of the European Union earlier this week. | Mr Sarkozy brokered the ceasefire between Georgia and Russia on behalf of the European Union earlier this week. |
| The US has staunchly supported Georgia. | The US has staunchly supported Georgia. |
| In a telephone conversation with Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili on Saturday evening, US President George W Bush again "reiterated United States support for the government and people of Georgia", the White House said. | In a telephone conversation with Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili on Saturday evening, US President George W Bush again "reiterated United States support for the government and people of Georgia", the White House said. |
| The German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, is due to hold talks with Mr Saakashvili in Tbilisi later on Sunday. | The German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, is due to hold talks with Mr Saakashvili in Tbilisi later on Sunday. |
| Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch has called on the Russian authorities to immediately take steps to end attacks by South Ossetian militias on ethnic Georgians in Gori and to allow vital humanitarian aid to reach vulnerable civilians still in the area. | Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch has called on the Russian authorities to immediately take steps to end attacks by South Ossetian militias on ethnic Georgians in Gori and to allow vital humanitarian aid to reach vulnerable civilians still in the area. |
| "The Russian military has effective control of the Gori region, making it responsible for the security and well-being of all people living there," said Rachel Denber, HRW's Europe deputy director. | "The Russian military has effective control of the Gori region, making it responsible for the security and well-being of all people living there," said Rachel Denber, HRW's Europe deputy director. |
| Abkhazia rebels | Abkhazia rebels |
| Even as the ceasefire was being signed by Russia's president on Saturday, his country's troops were moving deeper into Georgia, giving them control of almost all the crucial roads and main towns running across Georgia from west to east. | Even as the ceasefire was being signed by Russia's president on Saturday, his country's troops were moving deeper into Georgia, giving them control of almost all the crucial roads and main towns running across Georgia from west to east. |
| We are constantly encountering various problems with the Georgian side and [the withdrawal of Russian troops] will depend how quickly and effectively this problem will be solved Sergei LavrovRussian Foreign Minister | We are constantly encountering various problems with the Georgian side and [the withdrawal of Russian troops] will depend how quickly and effectively this problem will be solved Sergei LavrovRussian Foreign Minister |
| The BBC's Richard Galpin, who has spent the past two days travelling from the Black Sea port of Poti to Tbilisi, says Georgian forces seem to be surrendering control of the highway to the Russians. | The BBC's Richard Galpin, who has spent the past two days travelling from the Black Sea port of Poti to Tbilisi, says Georgian forces seem to be surrendering control of the highway to the Russians. |
| In the western town of Senaki, our correspondent saw large numbers of Russian troops moving around on Saturday. | In the western town of Senaki, our correspondent saw large numbers of Russian troops moving around on Saturday. |
| Further east in Zestafoni, he witnessed the panic of local residents as the word spread that the Russian army was approaching. | Further east in Zestafoni, he witnessed the panic of local residents as the word spread that the Russian army was approaching. |
| Cars sped away from roadblocks set up by the Georgian police, the drivers realising their hopes of reaching Tbilisi had been dashed. | Cars sped away from roadblocks set up by the Georgian police, the drivers realising their hopes of reaching Tbilisi had been dashed. |
| When the Russians arrived, they stayed only a few minutes after apparently being told there was no military base to take over. | When the Russians arrived, they stayed only a few minutes after apparently being told there was no military base to take over. |
| Our correspondent says he then followed the Russian troops as they entered the central town of Khashuri, where they were given an escort by the local police. | Our correspondent says he then followed the Russian troops as they entered the central town of Khashuri, where they were given an escort by the local police. |
| The UN puts the number of those displaced in the conflict at 118,000 | The UN puts the number of those displaced in the conflict at 118,000 |
| He spoke to one Russian soldier who said he believed their final destination would be the Georgian capital itself, although the Kremlin flatly denies this. Another soldier said he expected to be in Georgia for a year. | He spoke to one Russian soldier who said he believed their final destination would be the Georgian capital itself, although the Kremlin flatly denies this. Another soldier said he expected to be in Georgia for a year. |
| There were at least six Russian checkpoints further east along the highway between Khashuri and Gori, and it was only about 30km from the capital, near Igoeti, that Russian-controlled territory finally ends, he says. | There were at least six Russian checkpoints further east along the highway between Khashuri and Gori, and it was only about 30km from the capital, near Igoeti, that Russian-controlled territory finally ends, he says. |
| Georgia has meanwhile accused pro-Russian Abkhaz separatist fighters of taking over 13 villages and a hydroelectric power plant. There has so far been no independent confirmation. | Georgia has meanwhile accused pro-Russian Abkhaz separatist fighters of taking over 13 villages and a hydroelectric power plant. There has so far been no independent confirmation. |
| Security steps | Security steps |
| On Saturday, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev followed his Georgian counterpart in signing the ceasefire agreement. | On Saturday, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev followed his Georgian counterpart in signing the ceasefire agreement. |
| Among the six points in the deal, both sides agreed to pull back their forces to their positions before the hostilities began on 7 August. | Among the six points in the deal, both sides agreed to pull back their forces to their positions before the hostilities began on 7 August. |
| George Bush on the status of South Ossetia and Abkhazia | George Bush on the status of South Ossetia and Abkhazia |
| But Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the "additional security measures" stipulated in the accord would be implemented "first and foremost". | But Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the "additional security measures" stipulated in the accord would be implemented "first and foremost". |
| Diplomats have said that the UN Security Council is expected to vote later on Sunday on a draft resolution formalising the ceasefire agreement. | Diplomats have said that the UN Security Council is expected to vote later on Sunday on a draft resolution formalising the ceasefire agreement. |
| President Bush has said Mr Medvedev's signing of the truce is "hopeful", but that there can be no question that South Ossetia and Abkhazia will remain within Georgian borders, which are internationally recognised. | President Bush has said Mr Medvedev's signing of the truce is "hopeful", but that there can be no question that South Ossetia and Abkhazia will remain within Georgian borders, which are internationally recognised. |
| Reports suggest Mr Saakashvili only reluctantly agreed to another of the plan's clauses - international talks about the future status of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. | Reports suggest Mr Saakashvili only reluctantly agreed to another of the plan's clauses - international talks about the future status of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. |
| Back to story | Back to story |
| Are you in Georgia or Russia? Have you been affected by the conflict? You can send us your experiences using the form below: | Are you in Georgia or Russia? Have you been affected by the conflict? You can send us your experiences using the form below: |