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 2 Version 3
Russia 'will abide by ceasefire' Russia signs up to Georgia truce
(about 4 hours later)
US officials say Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has pledged that Moscow will "faithfully" implement a ceasefire agreement signed by Georgia. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has signed a ceasefire agreement with Georgia after receiving it in Moscow.
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. The deal calls for all military activity to stop and for troops from both sides to pull back into pre-conflict positions.
Ms Rice has demanded Russia withdraw its forces at once from their current positions deep in Georgian territory. The deal was signed on Friday by Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili.
Russia says its soldiers are working to protect civilians from Georgian troops. But Russian forces remain deep in Georgian territory, and correspondents say many obstacles remain in the way of full implementation of the peace deal.
In principle, the ceasefire agreement should lead to international talks to resolve the status of the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. At stake is the future of Georgia's breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
But the Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili has vowed his country will never accept any loss of its territory. US-backed Georgia has vowed it will not accept any loss of its territory, but Russia insists that following the recent violence, residents are unlikely to want to live in the same state as Georgians.
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. The crisis, which began nine days ago, saw Georgian forces launch a surprise attack to regain control of South Ossetia, only to be decisively repelled by Russian forces.
Russian 'advances'Russian 'advances'
On the ground in Georgia, Russian forces had moved forward overnight, BBC sightings suggested. See map of the regionOn the ground in Georgia, Russian forces had moved forward overnight, BBC sightings suggested. See map of the region
Russian forces still control Gori, which lies some 15km (10 miles) from the border with South Ossetia.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.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.
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 leaderMeanwhile, 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
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.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 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 aheadObstacles 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.
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 EU-brokered ceasefire agreement which President Saakashvili has signed includes a pledge to pull all troops back to their pre-conflict positions. The EU-brokered ceasefire agreement which both sides have now signed includes a pledge to pull all troops back to their pre-conflict positions.
It also contains a plan to begin international talks about the future status of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.It also contains a plan to begin international talks about the future status of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
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. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who was in Tbilisi on Friday, has demanded the immediate withdrawal of Russian forces from Georgian territory.
"[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. But Russia argues its forces are there to ensure civilians face no threat from Georgian troops.
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. Mr Saakashvili has accused the Russians of committing war crimes.The UN puts the number of those displaced in the conflict at 118,000
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
"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 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 for not granting Georgia membership of Nato, saying it could have prevented the fighting. He 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.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'
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 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
On Friday, Mr Bush said Russia's actions in Georgia were "completely unacceptable".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.
He called upon Russia to end the crisis or risk its credibility on the global stage.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:Are you in Georgia or Russia? Have you been affected by the conflict? You can send us your experiences using the form below:
Name
 Name