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Russians halt Nato co-operation Russians halt Nato co-operation
(40 minutes later)
Russia has told Nato that it is halting military co-operation over the continuing crisis in Georgia, an alliance spokeswoman has said.Russia has told Nato that it is halting military co-operation over the continuing crisis in Georgia, an alliance spokeswoman has said.
The Nato spokeswoman said it had been notified of the decision through military channels. The move follows a statement by Nato that there would be no "business as usual" with Russia unless its troops pulled out of Georgia.
She said the alliance "takes note" of the decision but had no further reaction to it. However, the alliance had stopped short of freezing co-operation with Moscow.
Nato and Russia began co-operating on various projects following an agreement in 2002. Meanwhile, Georgia's breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia have held mass rallies calling for independence.
Meanwhile, the separatist leaders of Georgia's breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia have urged Russia to recognise their independence at mass rallies.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow's response to their pleas would depend on the conduct of Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili.Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow's response to their pleas would depend on the conduct of Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili.
Nato spokeswoman Carmen Romero said Russia's Defence Ministry had taken a decision "to halt international military co-operation events between Russia and Nato countries until further instructions". Decision 'noted'
'Withdraw troops' Nato spokeswoman Carmen Romero said Russia's defence ministry had taken a decision "to halt international military co-operation events between Russia and Nato countries until further instructions".
The US described the development as "unfortunate", the news agency AFP reported. She said the alliance "takes note" of the decision but had no further reaction to it.
Nato said on Tuesday that there would be no "business as usual" with Moscow unless Russian troops are pulled out of Georgia in line with a French-brokered ceasefire agreement. However, the US described the development as "unfortunate", the news agency AFP reported.
Under the 2002 agreement that set up the Nato-Russia Council, the former Cold War foes began several co-operation projects. Russian TV showed a huge crowd at the rally in Abkhazia
Under the 2002 agreement that set up the Nato-Russia Council, the former adversaries began several co-operation projects.
These included sharing expertise to combat heroin trafficking from Afghanistan, developing battlefield anti-missile technology, joint military exercises and help with rescue at sea.These included sharing expertise to combat heroin trafficking from Afghanistan, developing battlefield anti-missile technology, joint military exercises and help with rescue at sea.
Carmen Romero said she was not aware of any Nato-Russia events scheduled before early September.Carmen Romero said she was not aware of any Nato-Russia events scheduled before early September.
At an emergency meeting on Tuesday, Nato suspended formal contacts with Russia because of the Russian military presence in Georgia.
Security zone
Meanwhile, Russia says it will keep troops in a security zone around South Ossetia.
It will extend several kilometres into Georgia proper. Russia also plans to strengthen its South Ossetia force.
"Tomorrow, eight checkpoints will be established in the security zone in which 500 peacekeepers will be deployed, no more than that," said Mr Lavrov, quoted by Reuters news agency.
It is still not clear to what extent Russian military forces have withdrawn from Georgia, despite Moscow's promise to pull out most of its troops by the end of Friday.
It is not yet clear to what extent Russian troops have withdrawn
Russian news agencies say an armoured column, consisting of more than 40 vehicles, has passed through South Ossetia, on its way to the Russian border.
A BBC correspondent in the Georgian village of Igoeti, just 35km (21 miles) from the capital Tbilisi, said he saw the Russian military pulling back towards South Ossetia early on Thursday afternoon. Russian forces were also reported to be still dug in around Georgia's main Black Sea port of Poti.
Russia poured troops into Georgia after Georgian forces tried to retake South Ossetia on 7 August. Russian-led peacekeeping troops had been deployed there since a war in the early 1990s.
Thousands of people attended pro-independence rallies in the Abkhaz capital Sukhumi and war-ravaged South Ossetian capital Tskhinvali on Thursday.
The world-renowned conductor Valery Gergiyev - himself an Ossetian - gave a concert in the devastated South Ossetian capital of Tskhinvali, with his St Petersburg orchestra on Thursday.