Thousands of Georgians angry at the presence of Russian troops on the outskirts of the strategic Black Sea port of Poti took to the streets in protest today.

Residents of Gori began returning to their homes today, two weeks after fleeing as Russian forces bore down on the strategic Georgian city.

Russia appeared to be finally pulling back from positions deep in Georgia today.

Georgian president Mikhail Saakashvili said he did not believe Russia would keep its promise to withdraw from most of the country in the coming days.

RUSSIAN forces yesterday built a sentry post just 48km from the Georgian capital, appearing to dig in to positions deep inside Georgia, despite pledges to pull back to areas mandated by a ceasefire signed by both countries.

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

Russia took the first steps towards a troop pullback from Georgia, but at the same time paraded blindfolded and bound prisoners on armoured vehicles and seized four US Humvees.

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.

EMMET Dunphy’s flawed analysis of the situation in Georgia (Letters, August 13), and his consequent petty attempts to take a swipe at anti-war activists, should not pass unchallenged.

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 president promised to start withdrawing forces from positions in Georgia today, but suggested they could stay in the breakaway region at the heart of the fighting that has reignited Cold War tensions.

Russian president Dmitry Medvedev announced that Russian troops will begin pulling back from Georgia tomorrow as Western leaders pushed for a swift withdrawal from positions Russia has held for days of warfare in its small southern neighbour.

Uncertainty remained in the troubled region of Georgia today as a ceasefire agreement awaited signature by the Russian president.

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

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.

Russia was accused of sabotaging airfields and other military bases in Georgia as its forces pulled back today.

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

A Russian military convoy defied a cease-fire agreement and rolled through a strategically important city in the former Soviet republic of Georgia, which claimed fresh looting and bombing by the Russians and their allies.

FIFTY battered Russian army trucks and armoured personnel carriers made their way down the highway toward the capital Tbilisi, making it clear that a day-old ceasefire would not keep Russia from moving freely through Georgia.

American forces were on their way to Georgia tonight after President George Bush announced a massive humanitarian aid operation and warned Russia not to stand in its way.

Russia was accused of breaking its truce with Georgia today by sending a military convoy from the captured town of Gori deeper into the country.

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

THE United Nations refugee agency’s first airlift has arrived in Georgia.

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 forces pushed a second front deep into Georgia, seizing towns and a military base in the western parts of the country.

RUSSIAN jets staged raids and its forces moved deeper into Georgian territory yesterday as Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin denounced the US for helping Georgia.

Russia invaded Georgia today sending forces beyond the two breakaway provinces it now controls.

Russia battled Georgian forces on land and sea, reports said today, despite a Georgian ceasefire offer and its claim to be withdrawing from South Ossetia, the separatist province ravaged by days of intense fighting.

Russia tonight claimed it had sunk a Georgian missile boat that was trying to attack its ships in the Black Sea, news agencies reported.

Russia expanded its bombing blitz today against Georgia, targeting the country’s capital for the first time.

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.

Georgia claims to have proof that Russian jets violated its airspace and released a missile that landed near a house, while Russia denies the allegation.

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.

Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania, who helped lead the revolution that toppled the corruption-tainted regime of Eduard Shevardnadze, died today from what officials said apparently was a gas leak from a heater.

A powerful car-bomb exploded outside a police station in Georgia today, killing at least four people.