EU suspends talks on Russia pact

European Union leaders have agreed to suspend talks on a new partnership agreement with Moscow until Russian troops have withdrawn from Georgia.

EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and French President Nicolas Sarkozy confirmed the decision at the end of an emergency summit in Brussels.

They also condemned Russia’s move to recognise the independence of Georgia’s regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

Russia has warned further support for Georgia would be a “historic” mistake.

STOP RUSSIA

Today at 3:0 Georgians from all over the country, and an estimated 300,000+ in Tbilisi alone (though its impossible to say for sure), gathered together in a massive chain to protest Russia’s continued occupation of Georgia. Winding through most of the major streets of Tbilisi, crowds of people held hands, sang Georgian songs, chanted slogans, honked horns, held up signs, waved flags, cried and prayed. Some even burned their Russian passports out of anger and distress. Many wore traditional Georgian costume, while others wore business suits as they come out of their offices en mass to join the chain.

Georgia protests against Russian aggression

Russian Invasion of Georgia

Breaches by Russia of the Ceasefire Agreement: CHECKPOINTS

As of 18:00• August 30, 2008

The Russian Army has illegally established 23 checkpoints deep within sovereign Georgian territory,contravening the six-point ceasefire agreement brokered by France.Twelve of the checkpoints are located in central Georgia and eleven in western Georgia.There are an estimated 970 Russian soldiers and 73 heavily armored vehicles stationed at thesecheckpoints. Armored patrols are dispatched regularly from the checkpoints into surrounding townsand villages. Additionally there are an estimated 10 000 Russian soldiers in Abkhazia and TskhinvaliRegion.Estimated number of Russian personnel &equipment at all 23 illegal Russian checkpoints:•Russian servicemen:970•Armored vehicles:66•Infantry combat vehicles:7•Grenade launchers:2•Ural-type vehicles:22•UAZ-type vehicle:3•Gaz-66 vehicles:2•Vilis-type car:1•Military Army tents:8•Cranes:3•Military power shovel:3•Vehicle with communication systems: 1•Vehicle with electricity generator:1•Mobile medical unit:1Central GeorgiaAt 18:00 on 30 August, the Ministry of Interior confirmed 14 checkpoints in central Georgia (Shida Kartliand other areas adjacent to South Ossetia, as well as in parts of South Ossetia that were never part ofthe conflict). Their location is given on the map number 2. The checkpoints are in the followinglocations:LIST OF CHECKPOINTS INCENTRALGEORGIA1. Perevi (Sachkhere district)2. Ghodora (Sachkhere district)3. Ali (Khashuri district)4. Ptsa (Kareli district)5. Variani (Gori district)6. Karaleti (Gori district)