Russia today revealed plans to consolidate its hold on the breakaway Georgian province of South Ossetia.

RUSSIAN soldiers took about 20 Georgians in military uniform prisoner at a key Black Sea port in western Georgia yesterday, blindfolding them and holding them at gunpoint, and commandeered American military vehicles awaiting shipment back to the US.

Russian soldiers took about 20 Georgian troops prisoner at a key Black Sea port in western Georgia today.

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.

US President George Bush is today due to discuss the Georgia crisis when he meets US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice.

A TOP Russian general yesterday said Poland’s agreement to accept a US missile interceptor base exposes the former communist nation to attack, possibly by nuclear weapons.

The fighting in Georgia tonight threatened to bring relations between Russia and America to a new low as the two superpowers exchanged insults and threats.

Georgia’s president said today he signed a cease-fire pledge proposed by envoys from the European Union.

Russia sent hundreds of tanks and troops into the separatist province of South Ossetia and bombed Georgian towns today in a major escalation of the conflict that has left scores of civilians dead and wounded.