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Russia halts military action in Georgia

(Xinhua/chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2008-08-12 19:36

MOSCOW  -- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Tuesday he has decided to end military operation in South Ossetia, Interfax news agency reported.

Related readings:  Russia calls for urgent meeting with NATO over South Ossetia  Russia expands bombing blitz in Georgia

"I have made a decision to stop the operation to force the Georgian authorities to peace," Medvedev said during a meeting with the Russian Defense Minister and the head of the Russian General Staff.

Medvedev said Russia had achieved its goal in the region and the security of Russian peacekeepers and civilians had been ensured.

Georgia began a military action against South Ossetia's forces last week in an attempt to re-establish control over the region. In response, Russian troops moved into the region to fight the Georgian forces.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy, just arrived in Moscow carrying Western demands for a Russian pullback, welcomed the decision to halt the fighting but said Georgia's sovereignty, integrity and security must be protected.

As he started talks with Sarkozy, Medvedev said Georgia must pull its troops from South Ossetia and pledge not to use force again to solve the conflict.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said earlier Tuesday that Georgia's President Mikhail Saakashvili should leave office and that Georgian troops should stay out of the region permanently.

Moscow will not talk to Saakashvili, Lavrov said; the best thing for Saakashvili to do "would be to step down."