British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has joined calls for the immediate withdrawal of Russian forces from Georgia.

America accused Russia of bullying its embattled neighbour Georgia today as a working peace deal for the region still seemed far away.

Russia’s foreign minister said Georgia could “forget about” getting back its two breakaway provinces, and the former Soviet republic remained on edge as Russia sent tank columns to search out and destroy Georgian military equipment.

The Georgia peace deal was faltering today in the face of Russian military dominance.

Fighting continued tonight between Russia and Georgia with thousands dead or fleeing their homes and towns left smouldering ruins despite a cease-fire declaration.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev today appeared to order a halt to military action in Georgia.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin today accused the United States of adding to the chaos in Georgia by airlifting home its troops serving in Iraq.

Georgia today announced a ceasefire in the breakaway province of South Ossetia.

US President George Bush said today that the fighting in the Georgia republic of South Ossetia was endangering peace throughout the volatile region, and he urged an end to the violence.

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.

President Mikhail Saakashvili was on track to win 52.50% of the vote in Georgia’s presidential election today, according to an exit poll based on results as of 4pm (12pm Irish time) – four hours before the polls closed.

A state of emergency was declared in Georgia as protesters took to the streets calling for the removal of President Mikhail Saakashvili.

Georgia today accused Russia of “undisguised aggression”, saying two Russian fighter jets intruded on its airspace and fired a missile that landed just feet from a house.

Russia today suspended all transport and postal links with neighbouring Georgia until further notice, the transport and communications ministries said.

The Tbilisi city court in Georgia today opened the trial of Vladimir Arutyunian, who faces life in prison for allegedly trying to assassinate US President George Bush and Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili in May and for killing a policeman in a shoot-out before his arrest in July.

MAN arrested after a fatal shoot-out with police has admitted to throwing a grenade at a rally in May where US President George W Bush was making a speech.

The brother of Georgia’s late Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania today dismissed the authorities’ assertion that he died from carbon monoxide poisoning and insisted that Zhvania was assassinated.

Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili today fired several senior police officers whom he accused of involvement in smuggling.

GEORGIANS yesterday bade farewell to late Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania, who died three days earlier in a friend’s apartment, amid worries for the future of their struggling country and doubts about the official explanation of his death.

GEORGIAN leaders have made a plea for calm after Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania was found dead in a friend’s apartment in circumstances which prompted widespread suspicion in the former Soviet state.

Shaken Georgian leaders have made a plea for calm after Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania was found dead in a friend’s apartment, a blow to President Mikhail Saakashvili’s ambitious pledges to wipe out corruption and resolve two simmering separatist conflicts.

President Mikhail Saakashvili put Georgia’s military on alert today after the restive Adzharia region barred him from entering, but he pledged his goal was to take control of the region without bloodshed.

President Mikhail Saakashvili put the Georgia’s military on alert today after the restive Adzharia region barred him from entering, but he pledged his goal was to take control of the region without bloodshed.