Russia apparently went back on its word to quit the key Georgian city of Gori today.

Government forces battled separatists for strategic areas near South Ossetia’s main city as Georgia sought the upper hand in some of the worst fighting in the breakaway region since a war more than a decade ago.

SIX Georgian troops were killed overnight in one of the most intensive exchanges of fire in breakaway South Ossetia, officials said.

US troops have launched operations in the former Soviet republic of Georgia to train local forces in anti-terrorism tactics.