Russia Claims That Georgia Had The Approval Of The United States When It Attacked South Ossetia

Russia claims that Georgia's attack on South Ossetia was almost certainly executed with the approval of the United States.

Russian Ambassador to the UN, Vitaly Churkin, told Russia's NTV television:

"It is hard to imagine that (Georgian President Mikheil) Saakashvili embarked on this risky venture without some sort of approval from the side of the United States".

Meanwhile, Russian troops and armor have moved into at least three Georgian towns, ignoring persistent demands by the United States that Russia respect "Georgia's territorial integrity".

Reuters reports that Russian troops are in the central Georgian town of Gori and outside the western town of Zugdidi.

At the same time, the U.S. military is getting more involved in the crisis. Official Defense Department spokesman Brian Whitman stated that the U.S. is helping Georgia rebuild the military strength it has lost so far in the war with Russia.