Russia

No appeasement toward Russia, Lithuania says

Valdas AdamkusVilnius - Standing by in Georgia would mean following the scenario that allowed Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler to conquer Europe, Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus said on Tuesday.

"We cannot allow a second Munich," Adamkus said, referring to the Munich Conference in 1938 when France, Great Britain and Italy permitted annexation of part of Czechoslovakia.

"Then, countries appeased Hitler and it led to World War II, to a colossal tragedy and millions of lost human lives," he told Lithuanian radio.

Dutch cameraman killed in Georgia

Amsterdam  - A Dutch cameraman has been killed in Georgia, Dutch news agency ANP reported Tuesday citing foreign media sources.

Georgia crisis: Bush warns Russia that its actions will jeopardize relations

U.S. President George BushWashington, Aug. 12 : Calling Russia’s actions in Georgia "unacceptable", U. S. President George Bush has warned Moscow that it is in danger of jeopardizing its relations with Washington.

The warning came as fighting continues to rage in South Ossetia and Russia rejecting Georgia''s latest ceasefire proposal.

Swedish foreign minister says situation in Georgia "serious"

Swedish Foreign Minister Carl BildtStockholm  - Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt on Tuesday said the situation in Georgia was "serious," the day after he arrived in the country.

Russia has with "ground forces and quite extensive airstrikes completely destroyed what there was of Georgian defences, radar stations, communications, army bases," Bildt told Swedish radio news in Tbilisi.

The attacks had also caused "major damage" to the Georgian economy, he added.

Russia ups pressure on Georgia, diplomats push for ceasefire

Russia ups pressure on Georgia, diplomats push for ceasefireMoscow/Tbilisi  - Russia military forces turned up the pressure on their Georgian opponents on Tuesday as international diplomats scrambled to bring a ceasefire to the widening war in Ossetia.

The sharpest combat as of Tuesday morning was in the Kodori Gorge in Georgia's west, where Abkhazia infantry and armour began an attack on Georgian defences, according to a Georgian government report.

Sarkozy headed to Moscow, Tbilisi to mediate South Ossetia crisis

Sarkozy headed to Moscow, Tbilisi to mediate South Ossetia crisis Paris  - President Nicolas Sarkozy of France, which currently chairs the European Union, was expected to fly to Moscow and then to Tbilisi Tuesday to mediate the crisis over Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia, Elysee Palace said.

Sarkozy spoke by telephone with Russian President Dmitri Medvedev twice Monday. He also spoke with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Italian President Silvio Berlusconi about his goal of reaching a ceasefire between Russia and Georgia.

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