This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/7564776.stm

The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Russia 'will abide by ceasefire' Russia 'will abide by ceasefire'
(about 2 hours later)
US officials say Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has pledged that Moscow will "faithfully" implement a ceasefire agreement signed by Georgia.US officials say Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has pledged that Moscow will "faithfully" implement a ceasefire agreement signed by Georgia.
They say he gave the assurance after US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice phoned him from her plane following a visit to Georgia's capital, Tbilisi. Russia has not yet signed the document, but Mr Lavrov is said to have given the assurance following a phone call from US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
Ms Rice has demanded Russia withdraw at once but the Russian military is still operating deep in Georgia, reports say. Ms Rice has demanded Russia withdraw its forces at once from their current positions deep in Georgian territory.
The US president has meanwhile kept up the pressure in a radio address. Russia says its soldiers are working to protect civilians from Georgian troops.
In his latest comments on the crisis, President George W Bush said Russia's actions in Georgia were completely unacceptable to the free nations of the world. In principle, the ceasefire agreement should lead to international talks to resolve the status of the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
Checkpoint But the Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili has vowed his country will never accept any loss of its territory.
On the ground in Georgia, a convoy of about 17 armoured Russian personnel carriers and 200 troops advanced to a village 45km (30 miles) from Tbilisi on Friday, the Reuters news agency said. At the same time, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has said that after what has happened, it is unlikely that the people of South Ossetia and Abkhazia could live in the same state as Georgians.
name="link"> class="bodl" href="#map">See map of the region Russian 'advances'
The BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse says there are unconfirmed reports the Russians have set up a checkpoint not far from Tbilisi. On the ground in Georgia, Russian forces had moved forward overnight, BBC sightings suggested. name="link"> class="bodl" href="#map">See map of the region
Georgian officials also said Russian forces remained in the Georgian Black Sea port of Poti, the site of a major oil shipment facility. Russian forces still control Gori, which lies some 15km (10 miles) from the border with South Ossetia.
There is also a major Russian military contingent further inland, at Senaki, and Russian forces still control Gori, which lies some 15km (10 miles) from the border with South Ossetia. Several tanks and armoured personnel carriers were seen in Kaspi, west of Gori and some 35km north-east of the capital Tbilisi - an advance of some 15km on their previous position. Lorries of soldiers were seen heading towards the town.
The Russian army brought in a large number of irregulars, mercenaries... They go around drunk, aggressive, armed and do all these atrocities Mikhail SaakashviliGeorgian President Russia in control and on moveGeorgians rally behind leader Meanwhile, Russian troops were seen patrolling in Zestafoni, some 100km west of Gori along a major highway. The Russian army brought in a large number of irregulars, mercenaries... They go around drunk, aggressive, armed and do all these atrocities Mikhail SaakashviliGeorgian president Russia in control and on moveGeorgians rally behind leader
The crisis began on 7 August, when Georgian forces launched a surprise attack to regain control of the breakaway region of South Ossetia, which has had de facto independence since the end of a civil war in 1992. Georgian officials also said Russian forces remained in the Georgian Black Sea port of Poti, the site of a major oil shipment facility, and a major Russian military contingent is further inland, at Senaki.
The crisis began on 7 August, when Georgian forces launched a surprise attack to regain control of South Ossetia, which has had de facto independence since the end of a civil war in 1992.
The move followed days of exchanges of heavy fire with the Russian-backed separatist militias. In response to the Georgian assault, Moscow sent armoured units across the border into South Ossetia to intervene.The move followed days of exchanges of heavy fire with the Russian-backed separatist militias. In response to the Georgian assault, Moscow sent armoured units across the border into South Ossetia to intervene.
Obstacles ahead
Scores of people have been killed by the fighting and tens of thousands displaced.Scores of people have been killed by the fighting and tens of thousands displaced.
On Friday, Georgia's President Mikhail Saakashvili said he had signed an EU-brokered ceasefire agreement to end the conflict over South Ossetia.
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 In pictures: Georgia tensionDay-by-day: Georgia-Russia crisisPEACE 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 In pictures: Georgia tensionDay-by-day: Georgia-Russia crisis
The deal includes a pledge to pull all troops back to their pre-conflict positions, and a plan to begin international talks about the future status of South Ossetia and another breakaway region, Abkhazia. The EU-brokered ceasefire agreement which President Saakashvili has signed includes a pledge to pull all troops back to their pre-conflict positions.
But Mr Saakashvili said his country would never accept any loss of its territory. It also contains a plan to begin international talks about the future status of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
He also accused the Russians of committing war crimes during the crisis. Ms Rice, who has been in Tbilisi, telephoned Russia's foreign minister while she was flying back to the US, to urge his country to sign the ceasefire accord.
"The Russian army brought in a large number of irregulars, mercenaries," he said. "They go around drunk, aggressive, armed and do all these atrocities."
The president criticised the West too for not granting Georgia membership of Nato, saying it could have prevented the fighting.
On her way back to the US to brief President Bush on her meeting with Mr Saakashvili, Ms Rice telephoned Russia's foreign minister to urge his country to sign to the ceasefire accord.
The UN puts the number of those displaced in the conflict at 118,000
"[Mr Lavrov] said that Russia would implement the agreement faithfully," a state department official told journalists, adding that the Russian government first wanted to see Mr Saakashvili's signature on the document."[Mr Lavrov] said that Russia would implement the agreement faithfully," a state department official told journalists, adding that the Russian government first wanted to see Mr Saakashvili's signature on the document.
The official said Russia was likely to sign the accord on Saturday. The French president's office said Russia had agreed to abide by a provision in the deal requiring Russian forces to withdraw from Georgian territory.
Earlier, the office of French President Nicolas Sarkozy confirmed the Russian leader, Dmitry Medvedev, had promised to sign the ceasefire deal and abide by its provision that Russian forces should withdraw from Georgian territory. Meanwhile, Mr Saakashvili has ruled out any loss of Georgian territory, and accused the Russians of committing war crimes.The UN puts the number of those displaced in the conflict at 118,000
President Medvedev said that after what had happened, it was unlikely that the people of South Ossetia and Abkhazia could live in the same state as Georgians. "The Russian army brought in a large number of irregulars, mercenaries," he said. "They go around drunk, aggressive, armed and do all these atrocities."
Diplomats have meanwhile said that the UN Security Council is expected to vote this weekend on a draft resolution formalising the ceasefire agreement. The president criticised the West for not granting Georgia membership of Nato, saying it could have prevented the fighting.
Diplomats have said that the UN Security Council is expected to vote this weekend on a draft resolution formalising the ceasefire agreement.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will meet the Russian permanent representative in New York, possibly on Saturday, because he has so far been unable to contact the Russian president, officials have said.UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will meet the Russian permanent representative in New York, possibly on Saturday, because he has so far been unable to contact the Russian president, officials have said.
'Watching with alarm''Watching with alarm'
Later on Saturday, President Bush will hold a video conference with some of his most senior staff, including Ms Rice and Defence Secretary Robert Gates, to discuss the crisis in Georgia. President Bush is set to hold a video conference with some of his most senior staff, including Ms Rice and Defence Secretary Robert Gates, to discuss the crisis in Georgia.
President Bush said Russia had to act to end the crisis in Georgia Russia angry at US missile dealPresident Bush said Russia had to act to end the crisis in Georgia Russia angry at US missile deal
Speaking from his ranch in Texas in his weekly radio address, Mr Bush said Russia's actions in Georgia were "completely unacceptable to the free nations of the world". On Friday, Mr Bush said Russia's actions in Georgia were "completely unacceptable".
"The world has watched with alarm as Russia invaded a sovereign neighbouring state and threatened a democratic government elected by its people," he said."The world has watched with alarm as Russia invaded a sovereign neighbouring state and threatened a democratic government elected by its people," he said.
"To begin to repair the damage to its relations with the United States, Europe and other nations, and to begin restoring its place in the world, Russia must act to end this crisis," he added. He called upon Russia to end the crisis or risk its credibility on the global stage.
Mr Bush said he would send his secretary of state to Brussels next week to discuss how to deal with Russia with Nato foreign ministers and EU officials.Mr Bush said he would send his secretary of state to Brussels next week to discuss how to deal with Russia with Nato foreign ministers and EU officials.
But the president did not respond to comments from Russia's deputy chief of staff, who said Moscow would be justified in launching a nuclear attack if Poland went through with its agreement to base US interceptor missiles on its territory as part of Washington's controversial defence shield.But the president did not respond to comments from Russia's deputy chief of staff, who said Moscow would be justified in launching a nuclear attack if Poland went through with its agreement to base US interceptor missiles on its territory as part of Washington's controversial defence shield.
Back to storyBack to story
Are you in Georgia or Russia? Have you been affected by the conflict? You can send us your experiences using the form below:
Name