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/7710362.stm

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Russia blames US for Georgia war Russia blames US for Georgia war
(about 1 hour later)
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has blamed the United States for the recent conflict in Georgia. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has blamed the United States for the recent conflict in Georgia, in his first state-of-the-nation speech.
In his state-of-the-nation speech, he said the war over Georgia's rebel region of South Ossetia was the result of a "conceited" US foreign policy. The August war over Georgia's rebel South Ossetia region was the result of "conceited" US foreign policy, he said.
Mr Medvedev, who succeeded Vladimir Putin earlier this year, vowed that Russia "won't retreat in the Caucasus". Mr Medvedev, who succeeded Vladimir Putin in May, vowed that Russia "won't retreat in the Caucasus".
He also said Russia would "overcome" the global financial crisis and would emerge as a stronger nation. He also told parliament that he wanted to extend the Russian presidential term from four to six years.
He blamed Washington for the global financial crisis, but said Russia would "overcome" the challenge.
"The tragedy of Tskhinvali [South Ossetia's capital]... was a consequence of the conceited policy of Washington," Mr Medvedev said.
He said that "the conflict in the Caucasus was used as a pretext for sending Nato warships to the Black Sea and also for the foisting on Europe of America's anti-missile systems".
The Russian leader warned that Moscow would take "retaliatory measures".