Huge crowds surged into the streets of Georgia’s capital Tbilisi today to demonstrate against Russia.

Russian tanks and troops roamed freely around Gori today and made forays toward the Georgian capital, keeping control of the road that slices through Georgia’s midsection despite Russia’s announcement that a withdrawal had begun.

Russia’s top military officer today accused Georgia of fabricating a report of a Russian missile attack, as Moscow and its small Westward-looking neighbour continued angry bickering over an incident that heightened bilateral tensions.

A man arrested after a fatal shoot-out with police in Georgia has admitted throwing a grenade at a rally in May where US President George Bush was making a speech, a Georgian official said on Rustavi-2 television today.

Georgian opposition leader Mikhail Saakashvili claimed victory in the country’s presidential elections and vowed to root out corruption after an exit poll showed him with an overwhelming lead.