Russia 'advancing deeper into Georgia'

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.

Georgia’s security chief said Russian forces had earlier bombed and looted Gori.

Meanwhile in the breakaway coastal province of Abkhazia reports said troops moved out into Georgian territory and planted a flag.

The troops were identified as a few dozen rebels from Abkhazia who planted their flag on a bridge over the Inguri River in a challenge to Georgian sovereignty.

“This is Abkhazian land,” said one. They said they were laying claim to what has historically been Abkhazian territory and that Georgian troops left without challenging them.

The fighters had crossed a thin slice of land dotted with Georgian villages and planted their red, white and green flag at what they say is the traditional frontier between Abkhazian and Georgian territory.

“The border has been along this river for 1,000 years,” separatist official Ruslan Kishmaria said at the bridge.

He said Georgia would have to accept the new border and taunted the Georgian forces who had left in recent days by saying they had received “American training in running away”.

Meanwhile Russia denied that it had sent tanks into Gori but did admit some Russian soldiers moved there.

A reporter with the Associated Press saw dozens of tanks and military vehicles leaving Gori, roaring south.

Soldiers waved at journalists and one soldier shouted to a photographer: “Come with us, beauty, we’re going to Tbilisi!”

The developments came less than 12 hours after Georgia’s president said he accepted a ceasefire plan brokered by France. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said yesterday that Russia was halting military action because Georgia had paid enough for its attack last week on South Ossetia.

About 50 Russian tanks entered Gori today, according to Georgian defence official, Alexander Lomaia.

Russia insisted that no tanks were in the town but reporters and television crews saw several dozen Russian military trucks and armoured vehicles speeding out.

Russia also said sporadic clashes continued in South Ossetia where Georgian snipers fired sporadically on Russian troops who returned fire.