Russia 'moving deeper into Georgia'

Updated 22.42 Thu Aug 14 2008
Keywords: Vladimir Putin, u.s. president, george bush, war, south ossetia, conflict, gori, russia, georgia

The Georgian president has claimed Russian tanks are moving further into his country.

Mikheil Saakashvili also accused Moscow of orchestrating a campaign of "ethnic cleansing" after invading its neighbour.

Mikheil Saakashvili: "I accuse the government of Russia of a deliberate policy of ethnic cleansing"

Eyewitnesses said Russian troops and armour are still operating in or around at least three Georgian towns in defiance a ceasefire agreement and American demands for a pull-out.

Both sides had agreed to pull their troops back to where they were before fighting broke out in the disputed border region of South Ossetia last week, in an agreement brokered by France.

The tension appeared to be easing in the town of Gori, where Russian soldiers were preparing to hand over control to Georgian police before withdrawing.

But Mr Saakashvili said he had reports that more than 100 tanks are heading towards Georgia's second city Kutaisi.

He claimed Russian troops had attacked Georgian communities in the pro-Russian breakaway Georgian provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, saying: "I accuse the government of Russia of a deliberate policy of ethnic cleansing".

Moscow earlier denied reports its soldiers were lingering in the Black Sea port Poti, but later said it was "legitimate" for Russian peacekeepers to stay in Georgia for intelligence operations.

Russia was also on a diplomatic collision course with neighbouring Ukraine and Poland.

Polish prime minister Donald Tusk announced the country has agreed to host elements of the US anti-missile system, saying Russia's actions in Georgia had strengthened the case for a radar shield across central Europe.

Russia has vehemently opposed the plan for Poland and the Czech Republic - both former Soviet satellite states who are now EU and Nato members - to strengthen its miltary ties with the US.

Ukraine provoked an angry response from the Kremlin when it said it would make Russia ask official permission to move its warships out of ports on Ukraine's Crimea pensinsula.

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