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| Russia 'ends Georgia operation' | Russia 'ends Georgia operation' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has ordered an end to military operations against Georgia, the Kremlin says. | Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has ordered an end to military operations against Georgia, the Kremlin says. |
| He told officials he had decided to end the campaign after restoring security for Russian citizens and peacekeepers in South Ossetia. | He told officials he had decided to end the campaign after restoring security for Russian citizens and peacekeepers in South Ossetia. |
| Before Mr Medvedev's statement, there were fresh reports of Russian warplanes bombing the Georgian town of Gori. | Before Mr Medvedev's statement, there were fresh reports of Russian warplanes bombing the Georgian town of Gori. |
| The conflict began last Thursday, when Russia responded to Georgian military action in South Ossetia. | The conflict began last Thursday, when Russia responded to Georgian military action in South Ossetia. |
| But Russia has also bombed areas outside the breakaway region - including Gori, which is less than 80km (50 miles) from the Georgian capital Tbilisi. | But Russia has also bombed areas outside the breakaway region - including Gori, which is less than 80km (50 miles) from the Georgian capital Tbilisi. |
| On Tuesday, witnesses told the BBC that several people had been killed when a bomb hit a hospital in the town. | On Tuesday, witnesses told the BBC that several people had been killed when a bomb hit a hospital in the town. |
| See map of the region | See map of the region |
| A reporter for Reuters news agency said several bombs exploded in front of his vehicle, while a Reuters photographer spoke of seeing dead and injured people lying in the streets. | A reporter for Reuters news agency said several bombs exploded in front of his vehicle, while a Reuters photographer spoke of seeing dead and injured people lying in the streets. |
| Officials in the Netherlands, meanwhile, confirmed that a Dutch TV cameraman was among those killed in Gori and another journalist was wounded. | Officials in the Netherlands, meanwhile, confirmed that a Dutch TV cameraman was among those killed in Gori and another journalist was wounded. |
| Should centres of resistance or other aggressive attempts arise, you must take the decision to destroy them Dmitry MedvedevRussian president Profile: Dmitry MedvedevDay-by-day: Georgia-Russia crisisGeorgia's civilian emergency | Should centres of resistance or other aggressive attempts arise, you must take the decision to destroy them Dmitry MedvedevRussian president Profile: Dmitry MedvedevDay-by-day: Georgia-Russia crisisGeorgia's civilian emergency |
| The BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse, near Gori, reported seeing sporadic artillery fire around the town right up until shortly before the Russian announcement. | The BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse, near Gori, reported seeing sporadic artillery fire around the town right up until shortly before the Russian announcement. |
| But our correspondent later said military action in the area appeared to have stopped. | But our correspondent later said military action in the area appeared to have stopped. |
| After Mr Medvedev's statement, tens of thousands of Georgians gathered in Tbilisi's main square to hear President Mikhail Saakashvili speak. | After Mr Medvedev's statement, tens of thousands of Georgians gathered in Tbilisi's main square to hear President Mikhail Saakashvili speak. |
| He told the crowd Russia was continuing its "ruthless, heartless destruction" of Georgian citizens - although the Kremlin denied his claims. | He told the crowd Russia was continuing its "ruthless, heartless destruction" of Georgian citizens - although the Kremlin denied his claims. |
| He also pledged to take Georgia out of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a group which includes most of the former Soviet republics. | |
| In Georgia's other breakaway region, Abkhazia, separatist rebels continued an offensive against Georgian troops in the Kodori Gorge region - the only area of Abkhazia still under Georgian military control. | In Georgia's other breakaway region, Abkhazia, separatist rebels continued an offensive against Georgian troops in the Kodori Gorge region - the only area of Abkhazia still under Georgian military control. |
| And British oil firm BP closed a key pipeline that runs through Georgia in response to the crisis. A larger pipeline, which runs from Azerbaijan through southern Georgia into Turkey, had shut earlier. | And British oil firm BP closed a key pipeline that runs through Georgia in response to the crisis. A larger pipeline, which runs from Azerbaijan through southern Georgia into Turkey, had shut earlier. |
| 'Safety restored' | 'Safety restored' |
| According to a statement, Mr Medvedev told his defence minister and chief of staff that "the goal has been attained". | According to a statement, Mr Medvedev told his defence minister and chief of staff that "the goal has been attained". |
| Russian President Dmitry Medvedev announces the end of military operations | Russian President Dmitry Medvedev announces the end of military operations |
| "I've decided to finish the operation to force the Georgian authorities to peace. The safety of our peacekeeping forces and civilian population has been restored," he said. | "I've decided to finish the operation to force the Georgian authorities to peace. The safety of our peacekeeping forces and civilian population has been restored," he said. |
| "The aggressor has been punished, having sustained considerable losses. Its armed forces have been disorganised." | "The aggressor has been punished, having sustained considerable losses. Its armed forces have been disorganised." |
| The BBC's James Rodgers, in Moscow, says there is no sign yet that Russia is willing to engage in talks with the government in Tbilisi. | The BBC's James Rodgers, in Moscow, says there is no sign yet that Russia is willing to engage in talks with the government in Tbilisi. |
| Russia's Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, has insisted that Georgia must sign a legally binding document on the non-use of force. | Russia's Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, has insisted that Georgia must sign a legally binding document on the non-use of force. |
| And Mr Medvedev warned that Russia would not tolerate any further Georgian military activity in South Ossetia, saying: "Should centres of resistance or other aggressive attempts arise, you must take the decision to destroy them." | And Mr Medvedev warned that Russia would not tolerate any further Georgian military activity in South Ossetia, saying: "Should centres of resistance or other aggressive attempts arise, you must take the decision to destroy them." |
| Georgia also remained sceptical, the country's prime minister telling Reuters that troops would remain "mobilised... ready for anything" until a binding agreement was signed between the two countries. | Georgia also remained sceptical, the country's prime minister telling Reuters that troops would remain "mobilised... ready for anything" until a binding agreement was signed between the two countries. |
| Foreign influence | Foreign influence |
| News of Mr Medvedev's decision emerged as French President Nicolas Sarkozy arrived in Moscow expecting to press Russia on the need for a ceasefire. | News of Mr Medvedev's decision emerged as French President Nicolas Sarkozy arrived in Moscow expecting to press Russia on the need for a ceasefire. |
| Mr Sarkozy said the Russian announcement was "good news" and called for an immediate implementation of the ceasefire. | |
| Russia has invaded a sovereign neighbouring state and threatens a democratic government elected by its people US President George W Bush Bush's tough talk on Russia | |
| The BBC's diplomatic correspondent Bridget Kendall says the timing of the Russian president's announcement is important. | The BBC's diplomatic correspondent Bridget Kendall says the timing of the Russian president's announcement is important. |
| Mr Sarkozy is currently serving as president of the European Union, our correspondent notes, and arrived in Moscow to speak on behalf of the entire bloc. | Mr Sarkozy is currently serving as president of the European Union, our correspondent notes, and arrived in Moscow to speak on behalf of the entire bloc. |
| The Russian move also followed strong comments from US President George W Bush, in which he spoke directly of concerns that Russia was planning to topple Georgia's pro-Western president. | The Russian move also followed strong comments from US President George W Bush, in which he spoke directly of concerns that Russia was planning to topple Georgia's pro-Western president. |
| "Russia has invaded a sovereign neighbouring state and threatens a democratic government elected by its people," he said. | "Russia has invaded a sovereign neighbouring state and threatens a democratic government elected by its people," he said. |
| "Such an action is unacceptable in the 21st Century." | "Such an action is unacceptable in the 21st Century." |
| Our correspondent says Mr Medvedev's announcement must be seen in the light of the US president's words. | Our correspondent says Mr Medvedev's announcement must be seen in the light of the US president's words. |
| The five-day-old conflict began late on 7 August when Georgian forces bombarded South Ossetia, where a majority of people hold Russian passports. | |
| Russia quickly became involved, bombing targets throughout Georgia and sending troops in to recapture South Ossetia. | Russia quickly became involved, bombing targets throughout Georgia and sending troops in to recapture South Ossetia. |
| Some 100,000 people are estimated to have been displaced by the conflict. | Some 100,000 people are estimated to have been displaced by the conflict. |
| Back to story | Back to story |
| Are you in the region? Are you or your relatives in any of the affected areas? What are your experiences? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you in the region? Are you or your relatives in any of the affected areas? What are your experiences? Send us your comments using the form below. |