RUSSIA CALLS OFF ITS ATTACKS ON GEORGIA
By Mark Dowdney
Mirror.co.uk
13/08/2008
UK
Russia yesterday called off its attacks on Georgia – as 350 Britons
prepared to flee the capital Tbilisi amid fears the ceasefire will
not hold.
President Dmitri Medvedev announced the Russian army had achieved
its objectives in the fiveday war with neighbouring Georgia over the
breakaway province of South Ossetia. But he warned his troops would
not hold back if attacked – and ordered his commanders to be ready
to strike.
And hours after the announcement the Georgian city of Gori was
reportedly still being pounded by Russian artillery and warplanes.
The Foreign Office said 350 Britons had contacted its embassy in
Tbilisi asking for evacuation help.
Coaches have been hired to take them over the border to Armenia.
It said: "They are for those unable to make their own arrangements
to leave, mainly families with children or the elderly."
Meanwhile, British oil giant BP announced it was shutting two pipelines
passing through Georgia as a "precautionary measure".
The pipelines carry around 90,000 barrels of oil a day from Azerbaijan
to Turkey. A prolonged closure could send already sky-high oil prices
spiralling further.
Medvedev announced the ceasefire in a TV broadcast and said the safety
of Russians in South Ossetia had been restored. He accused Georgia’s
pro-Western leader Mikheil Saakashvili of needlessly starting the war
by sending forces to retake the province. He added: "The aggressor
has been punished and suffered significant losses."
Russia has agreed to an EU sponsored peace deal to end the
conflict. Georgia will now study it.
At least 2,000 people, mostly civilians, have died. A further 100,000
fled their homes