Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili says he has signed a
European-backed cease-fire document aimed at halting fighting between
Georgian and Russian forces.
French Foreign Minister Bernard
Kouchner and his Finnish counterpart, Alexander Stubb, were to carry
the signed document to Moscow Monday, in a high-profile push to end
fighting in Georgia.
Russian warplanes staged new attacks
Monday on Georgian targets, and Russian officials claimed that Georgian
forces continued to fire on Tskhinvali - the capital of the breakaway
province South Ossetia. Russia says it has complete control of the
city.
Georgian troops, overwhelmed by Russian firepower, fled
South Ossetia Sunday as Georgian authorities announced a cease-fire.
In rejecting that truce call, Moscow said Georgian forces were largely
ignoring their own pledge.
Fighting escalated in South Ossetia
Friday when Georgia moved to regain control of the region from
separatists. Russia responded by sending thousands of troops into the
region.
Meanwhile, Moscow has issued an
ultimatum demanding that 1,500 Georgian troops stationed near
Abkhazia - a second pro-Russian breakaway region in Georgia - either
disarm or face attack. Georgia has rejected the disarmament call.
A
Russian military spokesman, Alexander Novitsky, told the Interfax news
agency Sunday that the military was preparing to deploy nine thousand
troops to Abkhazia.
Western nations are pressing Russia and
Georgia to end the hostilities. NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop
Scheffer has accused Russia of using excessive force and violating
Georgia's territory.
Georgia's foreign minister is expected to meet with NATO officials in Brussels Tuesday.
Georgia says 150 people have been killed. Russia says the death toll is at least 1,500.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
