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US warning to Russia over Georgia US warning to Russia over Georgia
(about 2 hours later)
The US has strongly criticised Russian military action against Georgia, in the bitter conflict over South Ossetia. The US has strongly criticised Russian military action against Georgia as fighting continued over South Ossetia.
In a telephone call to Georgia's leader Mikhail Saakashvili, the US Vice-President, Dick Cheney, said Russian aggression "must not go unanswered". President George W Bush told US TV he had frank discussions with Russian PM Vladimir Putin at the Olympics, calling Russia's actions "disproportionate".
President Bush said he had expressed his grave concern to Moscow at the military's "disproportionate" response.
Meanwhile, Georgia said Russian planes had bombed targets near its capital, despite Tbilisi declaring a ceasefire.Meanwhile, Georgia said Russian planes had bombed targets near its capital, despite Tbilisi declaring a ceasefire.
The BBC's Justin Webb in Washington says Dick Cheney's telephone call appears to have been an effort to send a message not just of solidarity but also of readiness for action. And Moscow accused Georgian forces of firing on Russian positions in the South Ossetian capital, Tskhinvali.
See a map of the region See a map of the region Moscow has insisted that Georgian troops withdraw fully from South Ossetia before any ceasefire can come into effect.
In other developments:
  • Georgia said the town of Gori, close to the South Ossetian border, came under overnight attack, although a BBC correspondent there said the situation was now calm.
  • French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner met Georgia's president in Tbilisi before travelling to Moscow to press the need for a rapid ceasefire.
  • Russian news agency Interfax reported that Moscow was deploying thousands of troops to Abkhazia, a second separatist region in Georgia.
  • Separatist leaders in Abkhazia announced a full mobilisation in order to drive Georgian troops from part of the region.
'Very firm'
Speaking in Beijing, Mr Bush told NBC TV that he had spoken frankly to Vladimir Putin when the pair met at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games late last week. Challenging situation for MoscowCrisis day-by-dayQ&A: Violence in South Ossetia
"I said this violence is unacceptable," Mr Bush said, adding: "I was very firm with Vladimir Putin. Hopefully this will get resolved peacefully."
However, in a telephone call to Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili, the US Vice-President, Dick Cheney, said Russian aggression "must not go unanswered".
Mr Cheney said the continuation of violence against Georgia would have serious consequences for Russia's relations with the US, as well as the international community.Mr Cheney said the continuation of violence against Georgia would have serious consequences for Russia's relations with the US, as well as the international community.
The call appears to have been an effort to send a message not just of solidarity but also of readiness for action, says the BBC's Justin Webb, in Washington.
But White House officials refused to speculate on what America might do if the Russian military action continued.But White House officials refused to speculate on what America might do if the Russian military action continued.
Meanwhile, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner is in Georgia, and will meet President Saakashvili to discuss a European Union-backed peace plan aimed at defusing the crisis.
Scenes of panicScenes of panic
Russia has continued air raids deep inside Georgia, after it rejected Tbilisi's announcement that it had called a ceasefire and wanted talks.Russia has continued air raids deep inside Georgia, after it rejected Tbilisi's announcement that it had called a ceasefire and wanted talks.
Challenging situation for MoscowCrisis day-by-dayQ&A: Violence in South Ossetia
Georgia's interior ministry said the latest attacks took place in the early hours of Monday and targeted a military base and radar installation. There were no details of casualties.Georgia's interior ministry said the latest attacks took place in the early hours of Monday and targeted a military base and radar installation. There were no details of casualties.
There were unconfirmed reports of further air strikes on the Georgian town of Gori, near the border with South Ossetia.
Tens of thousands of people have fled Gori, amid fears that Russian troops are heading for the town.Tens of thousands of people have fled Gori, amid fears that Russian troops are heading for the town.
The BBC's Richard Galpin described a scene of panic on Sunday night. He said he had been warned by the interior ministry to leave Gori, only to find that the road to Tbilisi was crammed with cars full of fleeing civilians.
The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) has called on the parties to the conflict to grant safe passage to civilians trying to escape the war zone.The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) has called on the parties to the conflict to grant safe passage to civilians trying to escape the war zone.
The UNHCR estimates that between 10,000 and 20,000 people have been displaced within Georgia, including South Ossetia, while Russia has said that a further 30,000 people have fled north into the Russian province of North Ossetia.The UNHCR estimates that between 10,000 and 20,000 people have been displaced within Georgia, including South Ossetia, while Russia has said that a further 30,000 people have fled north into the Russian province of North Ossetia.
Rising tensionsRising tensions
President Saakashvili told the BBC his forces had observed a ceasefire since 0500 on Sunday, but had still been bombed by Russian planes.President Saakashvili told the BBC his forces had observed a ceasefire since 0500 on Sunday, but had still been bombed by Russian planes.
ARMED FORCES COMPARED GEORGIA Total personnel: 26,900Main battle tanks (T-72): 82Armoured personnel carriers: 139Combat aircraft (Su-25): SevenHeavy artillery pieces (including Grad rocket launchers): 95 RUSSIA Total personnel: 641,000Main battle tanks (various): 6,717Armoured personnel carriers: 6,388Combat aircraft (various): 1,206Heavy artillery pieces (various): 7,550 Source: Jane's Sentinel Country Risk AssessmentsARMED FORCES COMPARED GEORGIA Total personnel: 26,900Main battle tanks (T-72): 82Armoured personnel carriers: 139Combat aircraft (Su-25): SevenHeavy artillery pieces (including Grad rocket launchers): 95 RUSSIA Total personnel: 641,000Main battle tanks (various): 6,717Armoured personnel carriers: 6,388Combat aircraft (various): 1,206Heavy artillery pieces (various): 7,550 Source: Jane's Sentinel Country Risk Assessments
He said his government had been trying "all day" to contact Russia to discuss a truce.He said his government had been trying "all day" to contact Russia to discuss a truce.
But a Russian foreign ministry official, quoted by Moscow-based news agency Interfax, said there were "indications the Georgian forces have not been fully withdrawn from the conflict zone".But a Russian foreign ministry official, quoted by Moscow-based news agency Interfax, said there were "indications the Georgian forces have not been fully withdrawn from the conflict zone".
Meanwhile tensions were rising in Georgia's other breakaway region, Abkhazia.Meanwhile tensions were rising in Georgia's other breakaway region, Abkhazia.
A Georgian official said Russian planes had bombed the western town of Zugdidi and Georgian-controlled territory inside Abkhazia. The claims could not be independently verified.A Georgian official said Russian planes had bombed the western town of Zugdidi and Georgian-controlled territory inside Abkhazia. The claims could not be independently verified.
The leader of the separatist government there, Sergei Bagapsh, said he had ordered a military operation to clear Georgian forces out of Abkhazia's Kodori Gorge, and gave them a deadline to leave.The leader of the separatist government there, Sergei Bagapsh, said he had ordered a military operation to clear Georgian forces out of Abkhazia's Kodori Gorge, and gave them a deadline to leave.
Georgia has accused Russia of landing 4,000 more troops in Abkhazia via the Black Sea. The separatists said Georgia had deployed a similar number of soldiers south of the Abkhaz border.Georgia has accused Russia of landing 4,000 more troops in Abkhazia via the Black Sea. The separatists said Georgia had deployed a similar number of soldiers south of the Abkhaz border.
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