USA slams Russia for not keeping cease-fire
United States President George Bush has accused Russia of not keeping to the ceasefire in Georgia. At a press conference in Washington, he said there were disturbing reports that the Russian military was still engaged, Info-Prim Neo reports, quoting international media.
Russian forces were said to have taken positions east of Gori and to be blocking the most important supply route into the Georgian capital Tbilisi. Mr. Bush also said the Georgia's port of Poti was being blockaded.
The US navy is shipping humanitarian aid to Georgia and the president demanded that Russia allow it through. It was also announced that US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will travel to Tbilisi.
In what was his strongest message of support so far to Georgia, Mr. Bush said he backed the country's democratic government and territorial integrity.
European Union foreign ministers have agreed to deploy observers to police the ceasefire in Georgia. The ministers were in Brussels on Wednesday for an emergency meeting on the situation in South Ossetia and other areas of Georgia.
It is hoped that the number of observers from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) already in Georgia can be increased. A United Nations Security Council resolution will probably be necessary to implement the proposal and Russia has not yet agreed to the move.
The US Navy has dropped plans to participate in naval exercises with Russia later this month because of Moscow's military campaign in Georgia, the Pentagon confirmed Wednesday. "The Pentagon felt it inappropriate given the current situation," Lieutenant Colonel Elizabeth Hubner, a Pentagon spokeswoman, said.
The US Navy was to join the Russian-hosted exercise near Vladivostok in the Sea of Japan later in August, she said.
The British and French also participate in the annual exercises that take place under the NATO-Russian cooperation. This year's mission was to focus on improving interoperability between the four fleets, Hubner said.