South Ossetians call for Russian recognition

Demonstrators raised their hands to support an appeal to Russia to recognise the two regions as independent states as Russian forces continued their pullout from South Ossetia.

Russian military deputy chief Anatoly Nogovitsyn said: "The pullback has started at such a pace that all the forces of the Russian Federation will be behind the line of our zone of responsibility by the end of August 22."

In Sukhumi, demonstrators backed a statement which read: "We appeal to President Medvedev, the federation council and state Duma of the Russian Federation to recognise our independence."

An emergency session of Russia's upper house of parliament is set to debate whether to recognise the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia on Monday.

Recognition would threaten to dismember strongly pro-Western Georgia, potentially triggering the worst East-West diplomatic crisis since the end of the cold war.

A top US general signalled yesterday that Washington is ready to rearm the battered Georgian military.

The Russian army has destroyed a massive hoard of Georgian arms and ammunition at the Senaki base in western Georgia, a showpiece built to NATO standards, and has disabled much of Georgia's military infrastructure.

General John Craddock, who is in charge of the US European command, said: "One would assume we would have to help them rebuild because they are a partner in the war on terror, they've been helpful."

Gen Craddock, who is currently visiting Georgia to "assess its needs," added: "Assistance is probably going to happen - it's a matter of how much and how fast."

Russia's ambassador to NATO Dmitry Rogozin warned NATO against rearming Georgia.

"Any attempt of NATO to fill the gap of losses of the Georgian army contradicts the conventions of the Organisation of Security and Co-operation in Europe," Mr Rogozin observed.

All NATO countries, including Russia and Georgia, are OSCE members.

Mr Rogozin repeated warnings that Georgia's bid for NATO membership is dangerous for Europe, arguing that it could lead to direct conflict between NATO and Russia.

A spokeswoman for Norway's Defence Ministry reported on Wednesday that Russia has told its embassy that Moscow plans to "freeze all military co-operation" with NATO and its allies.