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US warns Russia of lasting impact US warns Russia of lasting impact
(30 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. The US defence chief has warned relations with Russia could be damaged for years if Moscow does not step back from "aggressive" actions in Georgia.
But he warned that US-Russia relations could be adversely affected for years as a result of Moscow's actions. But Robert Gates said he did not see a need for US military force in Georgia.
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 Moscow said the idea of Georgian territorial integrity was an irrelevance.
Meanwhile, Russia has begun handing back the town of Gori to the Georgians. Georgia breakaway regions - Abkhazia and South Ossetia - would never agree to being part of Georgia again, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
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. Earlier, Russia said it had began handing back the town of Gori to Georgian police but insisted its troops would stay in the area.
See map of the region
A Russian general said his forces were there to remove weaponry and help restore law and order in Gori, which lies some 15km (10 miles) from South Ossetia and on a key route to the Georgian capital, Tbilisi.
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.
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.
name="link"> class="bodl" href="#map">See map of the region But, the defence secretary warned: "If Russia does not step back from its aggressive posture and actions in Georgia, the US-Russian relationship could be adversely affected for years to come."
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 French-brokered ceasefire on Tuesday, amid international concern, but it has seemed fragile so far.
Future statusFuture 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. Earlier on Thursday, Mr 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.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.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.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. 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 the 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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