Cheney arrives in Georgia

US Vice President Dick Cheney has arrived in Georgia, in a show of support for the South Caucasus nation and its pro-Western president.

The visit comes a day after the White House announced a one billion US dollar economic aid package for the country, ravaged by last month’s war with Russia.

The trip and his meetings with President Mikhail Saakashvili today have raised speculation that a US military aid package might be announced soon.

The Kremlin is unhappy with Cheney’s visit and other rhetoric from Washington. Any decision by the US to rebuild Georgia’s shattered military would further provoke Moscow.

Cheney arrived after a trip to neighbouring Azerbaijan, which is the starting point for a major oil pipeline that crosses Georgia and ends in Turkey.