Georgia reportedly seeking cease-fire with Russia

Georgia reportedly seeking cease-fire with Russia (NSI News Source Info) August 10, 2008 - WASHINGTON: Looking to end days of violent conflict, Georgia is urging a ceasefire and wants to negotiate with Russia, reports said Sunday.The news came amid concerns about the conflict spreading to the Georgia breakaway enclave of Abkhazia. Russian forces had already gained control of Tskhinvali, South Ossetia's capital, according to reports from the region, but were later said to be withdrawing from the area. "The military commanders have made their decision to pull out from Tskhinvali this morning," said Kakha Lomaia, secretary of Georgia's National Security Council, as quoted by a foreign news agency. U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor Jim Jeffrey said Sunday that Georgian forces have also announced the beginning of a pullback of forces from all of South Ossetia. "They have reached out to the Russians to ask for a cease-fire, which is very important -- something that we also support -- but we haven't seen a response," Jeffrey said. He added, however, that there have been reports of further Russian attacks, with "particularly troubling" ground attacks in the Abkhazia area."We're looking into that urgently, as that would be a further escalation of what is already a very, very serious situation," Jeffrey said. He said the U.S. deplores the "dangerous and disproportionate actions" by Russian forces. "And we would be particularly troubled if these attacks are continuing now as the Georgians are pulling back, and very, very concerned if, in fact, there is ground action inside of Georgia proper, that is outside of these areas of Abkhazia and Ossetia," Jeffrey said.