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Rice to push Georgia-Russia deal Rice to push Georgia-Russia deal
(about 2 hours later)
The search for a resolution to the conflict between Russia and Georgia is set to intensify when US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visits Tbilisi.The search for a resolution to the conflict between Russia and Georgia is set to intensify when US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visits Tbilisi.
Ms Rice will meet Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili, and present him with the formal ceasefire agreement.Ms Rice will meet Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili, and present him with the formal ceasefire agreement.
She is expected to show strong support for Georgia in the face of Russia's military advance into its territory.She is expected to show strong support for Georgia in the face of Russia's military advance into its territory.
Earlier, the US said its relationship with Russia could be harmed for years because of its "aggressive" actions.Earlier, the US said its relationship with Russia could be harmed for years because of its "aggressive" actions.
Speaking to reporters in Washington, Defence Secretary Robert Gates said Moscow's behaviour had profound security implications, but he stressed he did not see a need for US military intervention.Speaking to reporters in Washington, Defence Secretary Robert Gates said Moscow's behaviour had profound security implications, but he stressed he did not see a need for US military intervention.
See map of the region See map of the region
Meanwhile, President George W Bush again called on Russia to respect Georgia's territorial integrity and honour the EU-brokered ceasefire.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel will also seek a peaceful end to the conflict when she meets Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in the Black Sea resort of Sochi on Friday.German Chancellor Angela Merkel will also seek a peaceful end to the conflict when she meets Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in the Black Sea resort of Sochi on Friday.
It is thought she will urge Mr Medvedev to adopt a less confrontational approach, and to refrain from questioning Georgia's territorial integrity or undermining the legitimacy of its government. It is thought she will urge Mr Medvedev to adopt a less confrontational approach, and to refrain from questioning Georgia's territorial integrity.
Meanwhile, Canada has become the latest country to cancel a joint military exercise with Russia in protest at its military actions in Georgia. Georgia... must be able to go back to normal life Condoleezza RiceUS Secretary of State class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7561314.stm">Eyewitness: Gori's combustible mix class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7561633.stm">In pictures: Georgia tension class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7551576.stm">Day-by-day: Georgia-Russia crisis
Defence Minister Peter Mackay said Canada had decided to pull out of a joint exercise scheduled for next week, after consultation with the US. Russian troops remain in parts of Georgia, prompting concern that they will not pull back to the positions they occupied before the conflict began a week ago, as required under the terms of the peace deal.
On Friday Russian military vehicles were blocking roads into the town of Gori, which lies some 15km (10 miles) from South Ossetia and on a key route to Tbilisi, according to the Associated Press news agency.
On Thursday, Russia said it had begun handing back the town of Gori to Georgian police, but insisted its troops would stay in the area to remove weaponry and help restore law and order.
There were also reports of Russian armoured vehicles heading towards Kutaisi, Georgia's second city, and others moving near the towns of Senaki and Zugdidi.
Russian forces have also been seen in the Georgian Black Sea port of Poti for a second day.
Meanwhile, Canada has become the latest country to cancel a joint military exercise with Russia, scheduled for next week, in protest at its military actions in Georgia.
'Making progress''Making progress'
Ms Rice will fly to the Georgian capital on Friday to present Mr Saakashvili with the formal ceasefire agreement, which she was given by French President Nicolas Sarkozy when they met at his summer residence in the south of France. Ms Rice is flying to the Georgian capital to present Mr Saakashvili with the formal ceasefire agreement, which she was given by French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Thursday.
She has no plans to visit Moscow.She has no plans to visit Moscow.
Georgia... must be able to go back to normal life Condoleezza RiceUS Secretary of State class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7561314.stm">Eyewitness: Gori's combustible mix class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7561633.stm">In pictures: Georgia tension class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7551576.stm">Day-by-day: Georgia-Russia crisis PEACE PLAN No more use of forceStop all military actions for goodFree access to humanitarian aidGeorgian troops return to their places of permanent deploymentRussian troops to return to pre-conflict positionsInternational talks about future status of South Ossetia and Abkhazia
After her talks in France, Ms Rice said it was time for the crisis to be over. After her talks in France, Ms Rice said both the US and France strongly backed Georgia's territorial integrity and accused Russia of failing to respect the ceasefire.
She said that both the US and France strongly backed Georgia's territorial integrity and accused Russia of failing to respect the ceasefire.
"Georgia, whose territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty we fully respect, must be able to go back to normal life," she said."Georgia, whose territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty we fully respect, must be able to go back to normal life," she said.
President Sarkozy, who negotiated the deal on behalf of the European Union, urged both sides "to consolidate the cessation of hostilities and accelerate the withdrawal of Russian forces to their positions prior to 7 August". Mr Sarkozy, who negotiated the deal on behalf of the European Union earlier this week, urged both sides "to consolidate the cessation of hostilities and accelerate the withdrawal of Russian forces to their positions prior to 7 August".
"We need to stop the shock of war," he said. "It takes time but we are making progress." He also said France planned to submit a draft UN Security Council resolution on the conflict that incorporates the ceasefire agreement.
Mr Sarkozy also said France planned to submit a draft UN Security Council resolution on the conflict that incorporates the six-point ceasefire agreement. The deal includes a pledge to pull troops on both sides back to their pre-conflict positions, and a plan to begin international discussions about the future status of Georgia's breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
SIX-POINT PEACE PLAN No more use of forceStop all military actions for goodFree access to humanitarian aidGeorgian troops return to their places of permanent deploymentRussian troops to return to pre-conflict positionsInternational talks about future status of South Ossetia and Abkhazia Mr Saakashvili has said he will need to "take a closer look" at the proposed text before signing anything.
The deal includes a pledge to pull troops on both sides back to their pre-conflict positions, and a plan to begin international discussions about the future status of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. The BBC's Natalia Antelava in Tbilisi says the government hopes that the coming visit by Ms Rice will put more pressure on Moscow and create conditions for the return of tens of thousands of refugees who have fled violence over the past few days.
Mr Saakashvili has said he would need to "take a closer look" at the proposed text before signing anything. Meanwhile Poland announced late on Thursday that it had signed a preliminary deal with the US on plans to host part of its new missile defence shield.
"We have to see what she [Rice] has to bring," he told CNN. Washington - which says the timing of the agreement is not linked to the situation in Georgia - has always assured Moscow that the missile shield is to protect against long-range attacks from "rogue states" such as Iran, rather than Russia.
The BBC's Natalia Antelava in Tbilisi says the government here hopes that the coming visit by Ms Rice will put more pressure on Moscow and create conditions for the return of tens of thousands of refugees who have fled violence over the last few days. But, says the BBC's Jonathan Beale in Washington, the US is now likely to be less worried about Russia's objections and more anxious to send signals to European allies like Poland that it is prepared to guarantee their protection against any threat.
Earlier, however, Russia's foreign minister said the idea of Georgian territorial integrity was an irrelevance.
"I believe it is impossible to persuade South Ossetia and Abkhazia to agree with the logic that they can be forced back into the Georgian state," Sergei Lavrov said.
Mr Lavrov said Georgia's breakaway regions - Abkhazia and South Ossetia - would never agree to being part of Georgia again.
On Thursday, Russia said it had begun handing back the town of Gori to Georgian police, but insisted its troops would stay in the area.
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A Georgian state TV reporter was injured by gunfire while she was on airA Georgian state TV reporter was injured by gunfire while she was on air
Georgian police and Russian military failed to create a joint patrol force in the town where Moscow was still in control. Georgia attacked South Ossetia from Gori on 7 August, prompting Russian retaliation. The Georgians say their action followed provocation.
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. The Georgian government says that 175 people, mainly civilians, were killed during the conflict. Russia, which says 74 of its troops were killed, reports that more than 2,000 people died in South Ossetia, the vast majority civilians allegedly killed in the Georgian attack.
There were also reports of Russian military vehicles moving around the town of Senaki and the Georgian Black Sea port of Poti. While none of the casualty figures have been verified independently, the UN refugee agency estimates some 100,000 people have been displaced by the fighting, both from South Ossetia and Georgia proper.
Georgia attacked South Ossetia from Gori a week ago, prompting Russian retaliation. The Georgians say it followed provocation.
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