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| US warns Russia of lasting impact | |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| US defence chief Robert Gates has said he sees no prospect of using US military force in Georgia, following its week-long conflict with Russia. | US defence chief Robert Gates has said he sees no prospect of using US military force in Georgia, following its week-long conflict with Russia. |
| But he warned that US-Russia relations could be adversely affected for years as a result of Moscow's actions. | But he warned that US-Russia relations could be adversely affected for years as a result of Moscow's actions. |
| His words came as Russia's foreign minister said Georgia would not regain control of the breakaway region of South Ossetia at the heart of the row. | His words came as Russia's foreign minister said Georgia would not regain control of the breakaway region of South Ossetia at the heart of the row. |
| Meanwhile, Russia has begun handing back the town of Gori to the Georgians. | Meanwhile, Russia has begun handing back the town of Gori to the Georgians. |
| However, a Russian general in the area said Moscow's troops would remain nearby for several days to remove weaponry and help restore law and order in Gori, which lies some 15km (10 miles) from South Ossetia. | However, a Russian general in the area said Moscow's troops would remain nearby for several days to remove weaponry and help restore law and order in Gori, which lies some 15km (10 miles) from South Ossetia. |
| Despite concerns that Moscow may not be keen quickly to leave Georgian territory, Mr Gates said the Russians did seem to be pulling back. | Despite concerns that Moscow may not be keen quickly to leave Georgian territory, Mr Gates said the Russians did seem to be pulling back. |
| "They appear to be withdrawing their forces back towards Abkhazia and to the zone of conflict... towards South Ossetia," he said. | "They appear to be withdrawing their forces back towards Abkhazia and to the zone of conflict... towards South Ossetia," he said. |
| See map of the region | |
| Georgia attacked the rebel region of South Ossetia from Gori a week ago, prompting Russian retaliation. | Georgia attacked the rebel region of South Ossetia from Gori a week ago, prompting Russian retaliation. |
| Both sides agreed to a ceasefire on Tuesday, amid international concern, but it has seemed fragile so far. | Both sides agreed to a ceasefire on Tuesday, amid international concern, but it has seemed fragile so far. |
| Future status | |
| Earlier on Thursday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the separatist regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia would never want to be part of Georgia again, following the past week's conflict. | |
| He dismissed the idea of Georgian territorial integrity as irrelevant and said Georgia should forget any idea of regaining possession of them. | |
| In Moscow, Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev said Russia would respect any decision the two regions made about their future status. | |
| Their words followed warnings from the US that Russia had to respect Georgia's territorial sovereignty and withdraw its forces. | |
| Russia's continued deployment of troops in Gori has raised concerns that the Kremlin will not make a quick withdrawal from Georgian territory, despite agreeing to a European peace plan. | |
| Elsewhere, eyewitnesses in the Georgian Black Sea port of Poti said that Russian troops had entered the town in armoured vehicles. | |
| Moscow had earlier denied the reports but Russia's deputy chief of staff, Gen Anatoly Nogovitsyn, told a televised news conference it was legitimate for Russians to be in Poti as part of intelligence-gathering operations. | |
| Meanwhile, Reuters reported that more than 100 Russian vehicles, some of them armoured, had gathered outside the major western Georgian town of Zugdidi. | |
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