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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Russia blames US for Georgia war | Russia blames US for Georgia war |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has blamed the United States for the recent conflict in Georgia, in his first state-of-the-nation speech. | Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has blamed the United States for the recent conflict in Georgia, in his first state-of-the-nation speech. |
| The August war over Georgia's rebel South Ossetia region was the result of "conceited" US foreign policy, he said. | 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 in May, 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 told parliament that he wanted to extend the Russian presidential term from four to six years. | 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. | 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. | "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". | 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". | The Russian leader warned that Moscow would take "retaliatory measures". |
| Georgia's President Mikhail Saakashvili, eager to join Nato, has forged close ties with the US while liberalising the Georgian economy. | |
| Turning to administrative reforms, President Medvedev proposed extending parliament's term from four years to five, and making it easier for small parties to get into parliament, which is extremely difficult under the present rules. |