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US warning to Russia over Georgia 'New attacks' in Georgia conflict
(about 2 hours later)
The US has strongly criticised Russian military action against Georgia as fighting continued over South Ossetia. Russia and Georgia have accused each other of launching new attacks, as diplomats press for a ceasefire in the conflict over South Ossetia.
President George W Bush told US TV he had frank discussions with Russian PM Vladimir Putin at the Olympics, calling Russia's actions "disproportionate". Georgia said dozens of Russian bombers were attacking targets inside its territory, including around Tbilisi.
Meanwhile, Georgia said Russian planes had bombed targets near its capital, despite Tbilisi declaring a ceasefire. And Russia said Georgian attacks on the South Ossetian capital Tskhinvali killed three of its troops.
And Moscow accused Georgian forces of firing on Russian positions in the South Ossetian capital, Tskhinvali. Elsewhere, US President George W Bush criticised Russia's response, while EU diplomats headed to Moscow for talks.
name="goback"> class="bodl" href="#map">See a map of the region Moscow has insisted that Georgian troops withdraw fully from South Ossetia before any ceasefire can come into effect. French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, who met Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili on Sunday, said he was seeking a "controlled withdrawal of troops" from the conflict zone.
In other developments:
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  • 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.
name="goback"> class="bodl" href="#map">See a map of the region
Fighting erupted late last week when Georgia launched an overnight assault on South Ossetia, which has had de facto independence since the end of war in 1992.
Russia, which supports the breakaway province, hit back, bombing targets throughout Georgia.
The latest reports of violence came despite Georgia saying on Sunday that it would observe a ceasefire. Moscow has insisted Georgian forces withdraw fully from South Ossetia before it halts operations. Challenging situation for MoscowCrisis day-by-dayQ&A: Violence in South Ossetia
From Tbilisi, Georgia said up to 50 Russian fighter jets attacked targets inside Georgia overnight, with targets including a missile base and a radar station.
Georgia said the town of Gori, close to the South Ossetian border and used as a jumping-off point for Georgia's push into South Ossetia, also came under overnight attack.
Meanwhile Russian media reported that Georgian forces shelled South Ossetia's capital, Tskhinvali, killing three peacekeepers.
And in Abkhazia, a second separatist region of Georgia, reports said a Russian general issued an ultimatum to Georgian forces to pull out of Abkhazia's Kodori Gorge or Russian would send in its troops. Earlier, reports in Moscow said 9,000 Russian troops were being deployed to Abkhazia.
On Sunday, separatist leaders in Abkhazia announced a full mobilisation in order to drive Georgian troops from part of the region, 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.
'Very firm''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. class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7552323.stm">Challenging situation for Moscow class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7551576.stm">Crisis day-by-day class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7549736.stm">Q&A: Violence in South Ossetia Away from the conflict zones, US and European leaders stepped up efforts to end the fighting.
Mr Kouchner, heading a European Union delegation, was attempting to persuade both Georgia and Russia to sign up to a ceasefire agreement and stand down troops. 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 Assessments
Separately, a Council of Europe delegation headed by Sweden's foreign minister is heading to Tbilisi for talks. The BBC's Nik Gowing, travelling with the diplomats, reports that there is deep gloom among delegates, with many suggesting Russia has crossed several "red lines" by striking at Georgia.
Speaking in Beijing, US President Bush told NBC TV that he had spoken frankly to Vladimir Putin when the pair met at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games last week.
"I said this violence is unacceptable," Mr Bush said, adding: "I was very firm with Vladimir Putin. Hopefully this will get resolved peacefully.""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".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.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.
Scenes 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.
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.
Tens of thousands of people have fled Gori, amid fears that Russian troops are heading for the town.
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 tensions
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 Assessments
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".
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.
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.
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