Russia warns Georgia over rebel provinces

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.

Uncertainty about Russia’s intentions and back-and-forth charges clouded the conflict, days after Russia and Georgia signalled acceptance of a French-brokered cease-fire, and a week after Georgia’s crackdown on the two provinces drew a Russian military response.

Diplomats focused on finalising a fragile cease-fire between the two nations and clear the way for Russian withdrawal.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was heading for Georgia to press the president to sign the deal.

Georgian officials accused Russia of sending a column of tanks and other armoured vehicles toward Kutaisi, the second-largest city in Georgia, then said the convey stopped about 35 miles out.

“We have no idea what they’re doing there, why the movement, where they’re going,” Georgian Prime Minister Lado Gurgenidze said in a telephone briefing. “One explanation could be they are trying to rattle the civilian population.”

The US said a move toward Kutaisi would be a matter of great concern, but two defence officials said the Pentagon did not detect any major movement by Russia troops or tanks. There was no immediate response from Russia itself.

“I think the world should think very carefully about what is going on here,” Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili said. “We need to stop everything that can be stopped now.”

The Russian president met in the Kremlin with the leaders of the provinces, South Ossetia and Abkhazia, a clear sign Moscow could absorb the regions even though the territory is internationally recognised as being within Georgia’s borders.

And Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov issued a blunt message to Georgia and the world that appeared to challenge President George Bush’s demand a day earlier that Russia must respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia.

“One can forget about any talk about Georgia’s territorial integrity because, I believe, it is impossible to persuade South Ossetia and Abkhazia to agree with the logic that they can be forced back into the Georgian state,” he said.

The White House said that the US position was unchanged and dismissed Mr Lavrov’s remark as bluster.

Defence Secretary Robert Gates warned Russia was in danger of hurting relations with the US “for years to come” but said he did not see “any prospect” for the use of American military force in Georgia.

As the military and diplomatic battles played out, relief planes swooped into Tbilisi with tons of supplies for the estimated 100,000 people uprooted by the fighting.

US officials said their two planes carried cots, blankets, medicine and surgical supplies – but the Russians insinuated that the United States, a Georgia ally, might have sent in military aid as well. US officials rejected the claim.

Even as the relief rolled in, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned the fighting and lawlessness was keeping it from reaching large parts of Georgia. In some places, relief officials were overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of refugees.