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 3 Version 4
Russia signs up to Georgia truce Russia signs up to Georgia truce
(about 4 hours later)
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has signed a ceasefire agreement with Georgia after receiving it in Moscow. Russia has followed Georgia in signing a French-brokered peace plan for ending their nine-day-old conflict.
The deal calls for all military activity to stop and for troops from both sides to pull back into pre-conflict positions. But Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the withdrawal of Russian forces from deep inside Georgia depended on extra security measures being put in place.
The deal was signed on Friday by Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili. He said Russian forces were encountering "problems caused by Georgia", and refused to put a timetable on their departure.
But Russian forces remain deep in Georgian territory, and correspondents say many obstacles remain in the way of full implementation of the peace deal. US President George Bush again demanded the withdrawal of Russian forces.
At stake is the future of Georgia's breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. 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 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 A simmering conflict between Georgia and Russia erupted on 7 August when Georgia launched an assault to retake its separatist province of South Ossetia, where the majority of people hold Russian passports.
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. It led to a massive counter-offensive by Russia.
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'
On 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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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 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 name="link"> class="bodl" href="#map">See map of the region
The EU-brokered ceasefire agreement which both sides have now signed includes a pledge to pull all troops back to their pre-conflict positions. 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.
It also contains a plan to begin international talks about the future status of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. The future of another breakaway region, Abkhazia, is also at stake.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who was in Tbilisi on Friday, has demanded the immediate withdrawal of Russian forces from Georgian territory. Security steps
But Russia argues its forces are there to ensure civilians face no threat from Georgian troops. On Saturday Russian President Dmitry Medvedev followed his Georgian counterpart, Mikhail Saakashvili, in signing the truce.
Mr Saakashvili has accused the Russians of committing war crimes.The UN puts the number of those displaced in the conflict at 118,000 Among the six points in the agreement, both sides agree to pull back their forces to pre-conflict positions.
"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 UN puts the number of those displaced in the conflict at 118,000But reports say the agreement contains a provision that allows Russia to implement additional security measures on a temporary basis ahead of the arrival of international ceasefire monitors.
He criticised the West for not granting Georgia membership of Nato, saying it could have prevented the fighting. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters it was these security measures that would be implemented "first and foremost".
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. Russian forces are now far beyond South Ossetia's borders in Georgian territory.
'Watching with alarm' They are reported to have occupied the central town of Khashuri, giving them control of all but one of the major towns on the highway across Georgia from the Black Sea to the capital Tbilisi.
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. And the BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse puts them within 35km (22 miles) of Tbilisi itself. He says they do not look like they are pulling out - and in fact seem to have dug in.
President Bush said Russia had to act to end the crisis in Georgia class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7563182.stm">Russia angry at US missile deal 'Barbarians'
On Friday, Mr Bush said Russia's actions in Georgia were "completely unacceptable". The US has called repeatedly for Russian forces to leave its ally's territory, and President Bush repeated the call from his ranch in Crawford, Texas on Saturday. 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 class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7562959.stm">Russia in control and on move class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7563891.stm">Georgians rally behind leader
"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 said Mr Medvedev's signing of the truce was "hopeful", but said there could be no question that South Ossetia and Abkhazia would remain within Georgian borders - borders which were internationally recognised.
He called upon Russia to end the crisis or risk its credibility on the global stage. There was "no room for debate on this matter", Mr Bush said.
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. President Saakashvili signed the ceasefire agreement on Friday, after a meeting lasting more than four hours with visiting US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
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. Reports suggest Mr Saakashvili only reluctantly agreed to another of the plan's clauses - international talks about the future status of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
After the meeting he launched a bitter attack on Moscow, calling Russian troops "21st Century barbarians" and accusing them of war crimes.
He criticised the West for not granting Georgia membership of Nato, saying it could have prevented the fighting.
Russia argues its forces are there to ensure civilians face no threat from Georgian troops.
South Ossetia has had de facto independence since the end of a civil war in 1992.
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