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

A US military ship carrying aid supplies arrived at the Georgian Black Sea port of Batumi today after avoiding its original destination of Poti, still controlled by Russian forces.

A US military ship carrying humanitarian aid today docked at the Georgian port of Batumi.

A US Embassy spokesman says plans have been cancelled to try to dock a military ship carrying humanitarian aid in the Georgian port of Poti, where Russian forces are posted on the outskirts.

RUSSIA formally recognised the breakaway territories at the heart of its war with Georgia yesterday, heightening tensions with the west as the United States dispatched a military ship bearing aid to a port city still patrolled by Russian troops.

Russia raised the stakes in the aftermath of its invasion of Georgia today by formally recognising its two breakaway territories.

A US Navy warship carrying humanitarian aid for Georgia has anchored in the southern Georgian port of Batumi.

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 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.

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

US AMBASSADOR Zalmay Khalilzad exchanged sharp remarks with the Russian ambassador yesterday, accusing Moscow of resisting attempts to make peace with Georgia after days of fighting have left hundreds of civilians dead.

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.