US accuses Russia of resisting peace efforts

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.

Khalilzad pointedly asked Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin in the UN Security Council session whether Russia’s aim was to “change the leadership in Georgia” — a charge Churkin did not directly address but seemed to deny.

“We believe the situation has gotten a lot worse in the last 24 hours,” Khalilzad told reporters after the public debate during the council session had ended. “There is a danger here that Russia is over-reaching” by seeking regime change in Georgia.