US Vice-President Dick Cheney is in Azerbaijan at the start of a tour of the region aimed at supporting US allies in the former Soviet Union.
US Vice-President Dick Cheney is in Azerbaijan at the start of a tour of the region aimed at supporting US allies in the former Soviet Union.
Mr Cheney will visit Ukraine and Georgia, a month after fighting erupted between Russia and Georgia.
Mr Cheney will visit Ukraine and Georgia, a month after fighting erupted between Russia and Georgia.
A BBC correspondent says the US sees the states as key allies in protecting access to the region's energy supplies.
A BBC correspondent says the US sees the states as key allies in protecting access to the region's energy supplies.
The trip is likely to infuriate Moscow, which sees those three states as part of its sphere of influence.
The trip is likely to infuriate Moscow, which sees those three states as part of its sphere of influence.
In Georgia, Mr Cheney will stress American support for President Mikhail Saakashvili - the man the Kremlin dismissed on Tuesday as a "political corpse", adding that it did not recognise his leadership.
In Georgia, Mr Cheney will stress American support for President Mikhail Saakashvili - the man the Kremlin dismissed on Tuesday as a "political corpse", adding that it did not recognise his leadership.
Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev has also accused the US of helping Tbilisi build its war machine and called on America to review its relations with the Georgian authorities.
Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev has also accused the US of helping Tbilisi build its war machine and called on America to review its relations with the Georgian authorities.
"Unfortunately, at a certain point they [the US] gave Saakashvili carte blanche for any actions, including military. All that was translated into aggression," Mr Medvedev told Italian television.
"Unfortunately, at a certain point they [the US] gave Saakashvili carte blanche for any actions, including military. All that was translated into aggression," Mr Medvedev told Italian television.
Oil interests
Oil interests
The Bush administration is expected to announce on Wednesday a $1bn (£563m) package of aid to help rebuild Georgia, an administration official told Reuters news agency.
The Bush administration is expected to announce on Wednesday a $1bn (£563m) package of aid to help rebuild Georgia, an administration official told Reuters news agency.
The BBC's Steve Rosenberg, in Moscow, says America's primary concern is not nurturing democracy in the region but rather oil and gas.
The BBC's Steve Rosenberg, in Moscow, says America's primary concern is not nurturing democracy in the region but rather oil and gas.
Washington wants to benefit from huge energy deposits in the Caspian Sea, but it doesn't want all the pipelines heading west through Russia.
Washington wants to benefit from huge energy deposits in the Caspian Sea, but it doesn't want all the pipelines heading west through Russia.
One western-sponsored pipeline is already pumping Caspian oil from Azerbaijan through Georgia to Turkey's Mediterranean coast.
One western-sponsored pipeline is already pumping Caspian oil from Azerbaijan through Georgia to Turkey's Mediterranean coast.
There are plans for another pipeline to take natural gas from Azerbaijan and Central Asia and transporting it from Turkey to Austria.
There are plans for another pipeline to take natural gas from Azerbaijan and Central Asia and transporting it from Turkey to Austria.
Our correspondent says that, as far as the US and the EU are concerned, the new pipeline is vital if the West is to avoid becoming too energy dependent on Moscow.
Our correspondent says that, as far as the US and the EU are concerned, the new pipeline is vital if the West is to avoid becoming too energy dependent on Moscow.
Fighting between Russia and Georgia began on 7 August after the Georgian military tried to retake the breakaway region of South Ossetia by force.
Fighting between Russia and Georgia began on 7 August after the Georgian military tried to retake the breakaway region of South Ossetia by force.
Russian forces launched a counter-attack and the conflict ended with the ejection of Georgian troops from both South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
Russian forces launched a counter-attack and the conflict ended with the ejection of Georgian troops from both South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
Russia has since recognised the independence of both regions, though no other country has.
Russia has since recognised the independence of both regions, though no other country has.
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