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Russia blames US for Georgia war Russia blames US for Georgia war
(30 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. Mr Medvedev did not elaborate if he wanted to extend his own term, or change the rules for his successor.
"The tragedy of Tskhinvali [South Ossetia's capital]... was a consequence of the conceited policy of Washington," Mr Medvedev said. There has long been speculation that Mr Medvedev is a stop-gap so that Prime Minister Putin - who had served the maximum two consecutive terms - can return to the top job, correspondents say.
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". 'Retaliatory measures'
The Russian leader warned that Moscow would take "retaliatory measures". Addressing Russian lawmakers in the Kremlin, Mr Medvedev said: "The tragedy of Tskhinvali [South Ossetia's capital]... was a consequence of the conceited policy of Washington".
He said "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".
In response, Mr Medvedev said that Moscow would deploy the new short-range missile system Iskander in the Kaliningrad region, a Russian enclave between Nato members Poland and Lithuania.
He said the move would "neutralise" US missile defence plans.
Russia and Georgia fought a 10-day conflict over South Ossetia in August.
Moscow has kept troops in South Ossetia - and Georgia's other breakaway region, Abkhazia - since ousting Georgian forces during the conflict.
Georgia's President Mikhail Saakashvili, eager to join Nato, has forged close ties with the US while liberalising the Georgian economy.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. In his speech, Mr Medvedev also blamed Washington for the global financial crisis, but said Russia would "overcome" the challenge.