Russia faces Western pressure over Georgia

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The United States, NATO and European powers condemned as unacceptable Russia's recognition on Tuesday of two breakaway Georgian regions as independent states, and demanded Moscow recognise Georgia's territorial integrity.

U.S. President George W. Bush condemned Moscow's decision to recognise Abkhazia and South Ossetia, saying they must remain part of Georgia.

"Russia's action only exacerbates tensions and complicates diplomatic negotiations," Bush said in a statement from his Texas ranch.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Tbilisi's desire to seize back Abkhazia and South Ossetia by force had killed all hopes for their peaceful co-existence in one state with Georgia.

Russian tanks and troops continue to occupy parts of Georgia after crushing Tbilisi's bid to retake South Ossetia - the first time Moscow has sent troops into another country since the end of the Soviet Union in 1991.

EU president France earlier this month brokered a ceasefire in the conflict and German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she would talk to Russia's leadership before Monday's emergency EU summit on the crisis to get the bloc's viewpoint across.

"I think each and every member state is very clear ... that it is of the utmost importance to find a common position, and I am going to do whatever I can so that we succeed," she said.

COALITION

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, whose attempt this month to retake South Ossetia sparked the war with Russia, said the fate of the free world was being played out in his country.

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