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Rice to push Georgia-Russia deal Rice to push Georgia-Russia deal
(about 1 hour later)
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is on her way to Tbilisi for talks with Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has arrived in Tbilisi for talks with Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili.
Her trip - a show of US support - comes a week after fighting began between Russian and Georgian forces over the breakaway region of South Ossetia.Her trip - a show of US support - comes a week after fighting began between Russian and Georgian forces over the breakaway region of South Ossetia.
Ms Rice will present Mr Saakashvili with a ceasefire deal, but he says he will need a closer look before signing.Ms Rice will present Mr Saakashvili with a ceasefire deal, but he says he will need a closer look before signing.
The crisis began when Georgia attacked South Ossetia, sparking a Russian response. Scores of people have died. A Russian general said there had been no fighting on Friday and that Georgian and Russian troops were pulling back.
Russian deputy chief of staff Gen Anatoly Nogovitsyn also told a news conference in Moscow that the signature of a missile defence deal between the US and Poland had worsened already tense relations with the US.
Blockade
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.
See map of the region
It is thought she will urge Mr Medvedev to adopt a less confrontational approach, and to refrain from questioning Georgia's territorial integrity.It is thought she will urge Mr Medvedev to adopt a less confrontational approach, and to refrain from questioning Georgia's territorial integrity.
See map of the region
The crisis began when Georgia attacked South Ossetia on 7 August, sparking Russian retaliation. Scores of people have died in the fighting.
Russian troops remain in parts of Georgia, prompting concern that they will not pull back to the positions they occupied before the conflict began, as required under the terms of the peace deal.Russian troops remain in parts of Georgia, prompting concern that they will not pull back to the positions they occupied before the conflict began, 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. Russian military vehicles were continuing to blockade roads into the town of Gori, which lies some 15km (10 miles) from South Ossetia and on a key route to Tbilisi, on Friday, according to news agencies.
Georgia... must be able to go back to normal life Condoleezza RiceUS Secretary of State Eyewitness: Gori's combustible mixIn pictures: Georgia tensionDay-by-day: Georgia-Russia crisisGeorgia... must be able to go back to normal life Condoleezza RiceUS Secretary of State Eyewitness: Gori's combustible mixIn pictures: Georgia tensionDay-by-day: Georgia-Russia crisis
Russian forces have also been seen in the Georgian Black Sea port of Poti for a second day. There were reports of Russian armoured vehicles heading towards Kutaisi, Georgia's second city, overnight.Russian forces have also been seen in the Georgian Black Sea port of Poti for a second day. There were reports of Russian armoured vehicles heading towards Kutaisi, Georgia's second city, overnight.
On Thursday, Russia said it had begun handing back Gori to Georgian police, but insisted its troops would stay in the area to remove weaponry and help restore law and order. Russian armoured vehicles were also moving near the towns of Senaki and Zugdidi.On Thursday, Russia said it had begun handing back Gori to Georgian police, but insisted its troops would stay in the area to remove weaponry and help restore law and order. Russian armoured vehicles were also moving near the towns of Senaki and Zugdidi.
The US-based group Human Rights Watch has accused both sides in the conflict of killing and injuring civilians through apparently "indiscriminate attacks" on the towns of Tskhinvali, in South Ossetia, and Gori.The US-based group Human Rights Watch has accused both sides in the conflict of killing and injuring civilians through apparently "indiscriminate attacks" on the towns of Tskhinvali, in South Ossetia, and Gori.
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.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 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. Ms Rice is 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.
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.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.
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 AbkhaziaPEACE 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
"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.
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".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".
He also said France planned to submit a draft UN Security Council resolution on the conflict that incorporates the ceasefire agreement.He also said France planned to submit a draft UN Security Council resolution on the conflict that incorporates the 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.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.
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.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.
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. 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.
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.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.
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.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.
The Georgian government, which says its action in South Ossetia followed provocation, says that 175 people, mainly civilians, were killed during the conflict.The Georgian government, which says its action in South Ossetia followed provocation, 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.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.
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.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.
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