’Boys Forced into Muslim Flogging Ritual’
TIMESONLINE: A devout Muslim encouraged two teenage boys to flog themselves until their backs were covered in bloody cuts, a jury was told yesterday.

Syed Mustafa Zaidi, 44, a Shia Muslim, was celebrating the traditional Ashura festival, a ritual act of lamentation commemorating the slaughter of the Prophet Muhammad's grandson, Husayn, and his followers in the 14th century. It involves Shia Muslims flailing themselves with a zanjeer zani, an implement with a wooden handle and five chains attached to sharp knives. The men whip themselves to recreate the suffering of the martyrs.

After flogging himself, Mr Zaidi was said to have forced the two boys, aged 15 and 13, to join in the annual ceremony that took place last January at a community mosque in Levenshulme, Manchester. The boys were left with bloody cuts across their backs.

It is the first case of its kind, involving the religious practices of Shia Muslims, to be brought to trial in Britain. Mr Zaidi denies two counts of child cruelty amounting to “wilful ill-treatment”. ’Boys Forced into Muslim Flogging Ritual’ >>> By Russell Jenkins | August 19, 2008

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Nato Cools Relations with Russia
Watch video: Jaap de Hoop Scheffer has warned Russia that there "will be no business as usual" >>>
BBC: Nato foreign ministers have said they "cannot continue business as usual" with Russia, and demanded that Moscow pull troops from Georgia immediately.

The declaration followed talks in Brussels about the conflict between Moscow and Tbilisi over Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia.

Russia accused Nato of bias and of trying to save a "criminal regime".

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said a withdrawal was possible within three or four days - if Georgia did likewise. Nato Cools Relations with Russia >>> | August 19, 2008

TIMESONLINE:
Russia Dismisses Nato's 'Empty Words' as it Stands Firm in Georgia >>> By Michael Evans, Defence Editor, in Brussels | August 19, 2008

THE TELEGRAPH:
Russia rejects UN call to pull out of Georgia: Russia has rejected a draft UN resolution demanding it immediately pull out of Georgia, as President Demitry Medvedev again delayed the withdrawal >>> By Adrian Blomfield in Tbilisi and Jon Swaine | August 20, 2008

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How Is Islam Not Already Controlling the US?

Part 2
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Frank Gaffney Jr: Obama’s Islamist problem
TOWNHALL.COM: Democratic presidential candidate Barak Obama’s appearance before a large evangelical congregation in Orange County over the weekend underscored an evident imperative of his campaign: Emphasize his Christian faith and put to rest insistent rumors that he secretly adheres to the Islamic creed of his father and youth.

The effort to minimize any grounds for fearing Obama has an abiding, if covert, attachment to Islam has prompted him to risk offending Muslims in order to avoid off-message controversies and photo ops. It is, therefore, curious in the extreme that he is giving a prominent role at next week’s Democratic convention to a leader of an organization identified by the Department of Justice as a Muslim Brotherhood front organization and an unindicted co-conspirator in a terrorism financing conspiracy.

Dr. Ingrid Mattson is the president of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), an organization created by the radical, Saudi-financed Muslim Students Association. She will represent the Muslim community at the first-ever interfaith prayer service at a Democratic nominating convention.

Now, we know from the Holy Land Foundation (HLF) trial that ISNA is one of many Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated groups operating in America. We also know from a Brotherhood document entered into evidence in that case (which is currently being retried after the first prosecution resulted in a mistrial) that, “The work [of Brotherhood members] in America is a kind of grand jihad in eliminating and destroying the Western civilization from within, and 'sabotaging' its miserable house by their hands and the hands of believers so that it is eliminated and God's religion is made victorious over all other religions.”

The question is why would Barak Obama’s campaign – which has prevented Muslim women wearing headcoverings from being in the background of photographs with the candidate and which recently fired a Muslim-outreach coordinator who had ties to another unindicted HLF co-conspirator – allow itself to be put in such company? Obama’s Islamist Problem >>> By Frank J. Gaffney Jr. | August 18, 2008

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Bombing Kills Dozens in Algeria
BBC: A bomb at a police college east of the Algerian capital, Algiers, has killed 43 people and injured a further 38, the interior ministry says.

The bombing targeted a paramilitary police training school at Issers, near Boumerdes, about 60km (40 miles) east of Algiers.

An attacker drove a car full of explosives into the school's entrance, witnesses told the AFP news agency.

Algeria has suffered regular attacks blamed on militants linked to al-Qaeda.

Tuesday's attack came as exam candidates were waiting outside the police school, witnesses said.

Civilians as well as security officials were among the victims, they added. Bombing Kills Dozens in Algeria >>> | August 19, 2008

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Set Apart for God and Torah
Photo of Haredi Jewis courtesy of the BBC
BBC: The BBC's Erica Chernofsky in Jerusalem gets a rare insight into the lives of members of Israel's Ultra-Orthodox Jewish community.

Sitting on a park bench in the late afternoon, Michal Greenwald watches her children run around the playground with dozens of other kids as she takes a few minutes rest from her hectic day.

A full-time property lawyer, Mrs Greenwald is the sole breadwinner and also takes care of her four young children and tends to the housework. Her husband, Shmuel, spends his days studying in a religious seminary for men. She says she cannot imagine life any other way.

''Girls are raised this way from a young age, and such are the lives of Haredim in Israel,'' she says of the Ultra-Orthodox Jews who choose to live separately from mainstream Israeli society.

It is difficult to walk the streets of Jerusalem without running into Haredim, but their community can seem isolated and closed.

The men are distinct in their long black wool coats and trousers, stark white button-down shirts and black hats, even in the heat of the Middle Eastern summer. Set Apart for God and Torah >>> | August 19, 2008

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Russian President Dmitry Medvedev Vows Further Retribution against Georgia

THE TELEGRAPH: Dmitry Medvedev, the Russian president, said Georgian actions would not go 'unpunished' as the United States accused Moscow of deploying short-range missiles to positions within range of the Georgian capital Tbilisi.

Amid few signs that the Kremlin was honouring its latest pledge to withdraw troops, Mr Medvedev also threatened to "crush" any other ex-Soviet states that attempted to follow Georgia's example by killing Russian citizens.

For the first time since the conflict began 11 days ago, Mr Medvedev was allowed to stand in for Vladimir Putin, the prime minister, who has clearly been in charge of running Russia's war.

Giving a passable imitation of his predecessor, the president - who has been given coaching to imitate Mr Putin's abrasive style - adopted an uncompromising position that appeared designed to defy the United States, which has solidly backed Georgia during the conflict.

"What the Georgian authorities did exceeded human understanding," he told troops at a Russian military base in Vladikavkaz, a city in the Caucasus close to the Georgian border. "Their actions cannot be explained and moreover must not go unpunished."

Mr Medvedev gave no hint over what further retribution against Georgia he sought. Russia has already announced plans to launch a genocide investigation against the Georgian government, perhaps with the view to bringing war crimes charges against President Mikheil Saakashvili.

Meanwhile, Pentagon officials confirmed Russia had deployed short-range SS-21 missiles inside the Georgian breakaway region of South Ossetia, a move that is likely to unnerve Mr Saakashvili's government and undermine the already fragile ceasefire. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev Vows Further Retribution against Georgia >>> By Adrian Blomfield near Gori | August 19, 2008

THE NEW YORK TIMES:
Russia Seems to Be Hunkering Down in Georgia >>> By Andrew E Kramer | August 18, 2008

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Islamic Terror Cell 'May Have Been Plotting to Attack Queen'
Image of Aabid Hussein courtesy of the BBC
THE TELEGRAPH: A terror cell caught with details of bomb-making and suicide vests may have been plotting to attack the Queen and members of the Royal family, it can be disclosed.

The cell, which included Britain's youngest ever terrorist, arrested on his way home from his GCSE chemistry exam, was found with information about the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh along with the Prince of Wales, the Duke of York, the Earl of Wessex and the Princess Royal.

Also on the list were Princess Michael of Kent, The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and The Duke and Duchess of Kent.

Aabid Hussain Khan, from Bradford, West Yorkshire, had compiled pictures, maps and details of the opening hours of official residences from information available on the internet.

There were also details of London landmarks including the Houses of Parliament, Tower Bridge and the underground as well as the New York and Washington metros and a home-made video of the Washington Memorial and World Bank in the US.

A counter-terrorism source said: "They had details of explosives and poisons along with information about London landmarks and a computer folder on Royal residences. We would be foolish to rule out the fact that they may have been planning an attack."

Detective Chief Superintendent John Parkinson, Head of the Counter Terrorism Unit in Leeds, said the men posed a "very real threat". Islamic Terror Cell 'May Have Been Plotting to Attack Queen' >>> By Duncan Gardham, Security Correspondent | August 18, 2008

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Pope Urges Fight against Racism
BBC: Pope Benedict XVI has urged Christians to help society combat intolerance to foreigners amid a row over criticism of the government by Roman Catholics.

An article in the country's biggest circulation Catholic weekly magazine criticised the government's crackdown on illegal immigrants.

Talking at his summer residence near Rome, the Pope spoke of worrying displays of racism in some countries.

While he did not name them, he clearly intended to include Italy.

The Pope said that while racism was often tied to social and economic problems, these could never justify contempt or racial discrimination.

Taking his cue from an Old Testament passage about the duty of welcoming foreigners, the Pope said peace and justice could only be created in a world where every human person was respected. Pope Urges Fight against Racism >>> By David Willey, BBC Rome | August 17, 2008

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Georgia Conflict: Condoleeza Rice Toughens Stance towards Russia

THE TELEGRAPH: Washington has toughened its stance towards Russia as it sought to limit the damage to its prestige over the crisis in Georgia.

On the defensive after criticism that its response to the crisis has failed to stop Russia from prolonging its military operations in Georgia, the Bush administration lashed out at Moscow. Condoleezza Rice, the US secretary of state, said that Russia's reputation was now "in tatters".

But this did not stop Russia from searching for a fresh pretext to extend its occupation of Georgian territory. While President Dmitry Medvedev announced that a troop withdrawal would finally begin on Monday, a spokesman for the Russian defence ministry later accused Georgia of preparing "a major provocative act" in the strategic town of Gori.

Miss Rice, who is to leave Washington for Brussels on Monday for an emergency Nato summit, called on Mr Medvedev to ensure that he carries out his latest promise.

"I hope this time he will keep his word," she said.

"Russia's reputation as a potential partner in international institutions, diplomatic, political, security, economic, is frankly, in tatters.

She added: "Russia will pay a price. We will look seriously with our allies and bilaterally at the consequences of this Russian action ... Georgia will rebuild, Russia's reputation may not be rebuilt." Georgia Conflict: Condoleeza Rice Toughens Stance towards Russia >>> By Alex Spillius in Washington and Adrian Blomfield in Gori | August 18, 2008

THE NEW YORK TIMES:
Russia, Pledging to Leave Georgia, Tightens Its Grip >>> By Michael R. Gordon | August 18, 2008

SPIEGELONLINE INTERNATIONAL:
Merkel's Most Serious Foreign Policy Crisis: German Chancellor Angela Merkel is now facing her most serious foreign policy crisis to date. The war in the Caucasus has shattered relations with Russia and sparked disagreements within the EU -- and with the United States >>> By Ralf Beste, Markus Feldenkirchen and Alexander Szandar | August 18, 2008

SPIEGELONLINE INTERNATIONAL:
Russia's Strategy Paralyzes US Government: The Bush Administration has warned that ties with Russia are imperiled, but the truth is that the US can undertake little more than symbolic action against Moscow. As much as Russia's actions have irritated the Americans, no one is interested in an escalation >>> By Gregor Peter Schmitz in Washington, D.C. | August 15, 2008

TIMESONLINE:
Cross Us and We’ll Crush You, Warns Medvedev >>> By Philippe Naughton | August 18, 2008

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Russia Warned: Withdraw from Georgia, or Else
THE GUARDIAN: European leaders warned Russia yesterday to withdraw its forces rapidly from Georgia or face unspecified consequences, as Moscow stalled on its pledges to honour a ceasefire and pull back the thousands of troops from the Caucasus republic.

With the US and European governments due to meet tomorrow to consider their options for the first time since the crisis erupted 10 days ago, President Nicolas Sarkozy of France threatened the Kremlin with an ultimatum for the first time, warning that more delays in a pullout "would have serious consequences on relations between Russia and the European Union".

The French warning echoed similar statements from the Americans in recent days, none of which appears to have rattled the Russians, whose forces remain in firm control of large tracts of Georgia well beyond the two separatist enclaves of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

"People are going to begin to wonder if Russia can be trusted," said Condoleezza Rice, the US secretary of state, yesterday of Moscow's failure to keep its promises.

The German chancellor, Angela Merkel, added to the pressure on Moscow by insisting on an "urgent" retreat. She also backed Georgian aspirations to join Nato. Downing Street said it would send the foreign secretary, David Miliband, to the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, later this week. Russia Warned: Withdraw from Georgia, or Else: Nato to hold emergency meeting amid doubts over Kremlin promise >>> By Ian Traynor in Brussels and Luke Harding in Tbilisi | August 18, 2008

NZZ Online:
Merkel sichert Georgien Unterstützung zu: Russlands Präsident kündigt Beginn des Truppenrückzugs an >>> 17. August 2008

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The Day After: 1983 – Nuclear Attack [ABC]

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Qaeda's Zawahiri Slams Musharraf as 'Enemy of Islam'
AFP: DUBAI — Al-Qaeda number two Ayman al-Zawahiri slammed Pakistan's embattled President Pervez Musharraf as an enemy of Islam, in a first audio message in English posted online on Saturday.

In the message, excerpts of which were aired by Pakistan's ARY One television last week, Zawahiri also dismissed the Pakistani army as a "band of mercenaries" controlled by the US administration.

"Pervez (Musharraf) has proven himself to be one of the biggest enemies of Islam, if the not the biggest," Zawahiri said in the purported message, which was posted on a website usually used by Islamist militant groups.

He chided Musharraf for offering "all support to topple the Muslim emirate in Afghanistan," referring to the US-led war which defeated the Taliban regime in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.

"Is the Pakistan Army an army defending Muslims, or merely a security service agency or a band of mercenaries which kills Muslims ... to please its masters, the neo-crusaders in the White House," he said, in an apparent attempt to incite Muslim Pakistanis against the army. Qaeda's Zawahiri Slams Musharraf as 'Enemy of Islam' >>> | August 16, 2008

TIMESONLINE:
Pervez Musharraf Resigns as Pakistani President >>> By Jeremy Page and Zahid Hussain, in Islamabad | August 18, 2008

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Ethnic Georgians Doing Forced Labour in South Ossetia
ARAB NEWS: TSKHINVALI, Georgia: Teams of ethnic Georgians, some under armed guard, were being forced to clean the streets of South Ossetia’s capital yesterday. It was the first apparent evidence of humiliation or abuse of Georgians in the Russian-controlled breakaway republic.

Three teams of ethnic Georgians, men in their 40s and 50s, were seen cleaning the streets of Tskhinvali, which was badly damaged in the fighting. When approached, one worker confirmed that he was being forced to work.

One group of about two dozen men was escorted through the streets by armed Ossetians and a Russian officer. “Labor turns even monkeys into humans,” the Russian officer said. He threatened to arrest an AP photographer when he attempted to take pictures. Georgians Doing Forced Labor in South Ossetia >>> By Mansur Mirovalev & AP | August 17, 2008

INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE:
Georgians doing forced labor in S. Ossetia >>> AP | August 16, 2008

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Editorial: Deeper Malaise Afflicting Europe
ARAB NEWS: THE American educational system was a pioneer in abandoning corporal punishment in schools, preferring to trust children would be influenced to do the right thing by pure reason and such minor penalties as detention. But things have changed. When some high schools open in Texas for the next school year, some teachers will be carrying guns to defend themselves from their pupils who often themselves bring guns and knives to class.

That a society which forbids the cane for serious cases of indiscipline is nonetheless prepared to let teachers fire guns at students in self-defense is mind-boggling. It does not matter that this astonishing development is currently taking place in a handful of schools in only one state. It is a further searing indictment of the continuing right to bear arms enshrined in the second amendment to the US Constitution. It also points to a deeper malaise which is by no means confined to America but which clearly affects Europe as well.

Western societies have lost control of their children. Since the 1960s, youth culture has been progressively commercialized. From the minute they are able to watch TV, billions of advertising dollars target children. Vulnerable young minds are being pressed to grow up too fast and encouraged to believe that they have a useful contribution to make to society — at the very time when society should, in fact, be educating them, both in academics and character-building. Editorial: Deeper Malaise Afflicting Europe >>> | August 17, 2008

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Italy: Illegal Immigration Soars
Photo of illegal immigrants entering Italy from North Africa courtesy of the BBC
BBC: The number of illegal immigrants entering Italy doubled in the first seven months of the year compared with the same period in 2007, Rome says.

The figures come in spite of a government crackdown on crime and an increase in the number of deportations.

More than 15,000 illegal immigrants entered the EU via Italy between January and July, Interior Minister Roberto Maroni said.

Many illegal immigrants arrive on boats organised by people traffickers.

Mr Maroni, whose Northern League party formed part of the right-wing government coalition, has campaigned strongly against clandestine immigration.

Most of the illegal immigrants come across the Mediterranean Sea from North Africa.

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has launched a crackdown on crime, which most Italians associate with illegal immigration.

He brought in stringent new measures making it an offence punishable by up to four years jail to enter the country illegally. Italy Illegal Immigration Soars >>> By David Willey, BBC News Rome | August 15, 2008

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Hillraiser Lady Lynn Forester de Rothschild Speaking about Hillary and Obama on Fox

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Russia’s New Nuclear Challenge to Europe
TIMESONLINE: Russia is considering arming its Baltic fleet with nuclear warheads for the first time since the cold war, senior military sources warned last night.

The move, in response to American plans for a missile defence shield in Europe, would heighten tensions raised by the advance of Russian forces to within 20 miles of Tbilisi, the Georgian capital, yesterday.

Under the Russian plans, nuclear warheads could be supplied to submarines, cruisers and fighter bombers of the Baltic fleet based in Kaliningrad, a Russian enclave between the European Union countries of Poland and Lithuania. A senior military source in Moscow said the fleet had suffered from underfunding since the collapse of communism. “That will change now,” said the source.

“In view of America’s determination to set up a missile defence shield in Europe, the military is reviewing all its plans to give Washington an adequate response.”

The proposal to bring back nuclear warheads was condemned by Kurt Volker, the US ambassador to Nato, who said he knew of the threat.

“It is really unfortunate that Russia chooses to react by putting nuclear warheads in different places – if indeed it does that – when the rest of the world is not looking at some kind of old-fashioned superpower conflict,” he said.

The warnings came 24 hours after Russia told Poland that it could face a nuclear strike for agreeing to let the United States station components of the missile defence shield on its soil. Russia’s New Nuclear Challenge to Europe >>> By Mark Franchetti, Tbilisi | August 17, 2008

THE GUARDIAN:
Russia Denies South Ossetia Pullout Under Way: Defence ministry official says withdrawal under consideration >>> By Luke Harding, Mitch Prothero, and Jenny Percival | August 17, 2008

SPIEGELONLINE INTERNATIONAL:
'Moscow Sees No Need to Give an Inch': After promising to leave, Russian troops haven't budged from Georgia in the wake of a surprising flare-up of violence in the Caucasus. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev also wouldn't budge in his posture toward Angela Merkel during a mini-summit on Friday. German commentators wonder if Russia cares about Europe at all >>> By Michael Scott Moore | August 16, 2008

SPIEGELONLINE INTERNATIONAL:
Opinion: Russia Capitalizes on New World Disorder >>> By Gerhard Spörl | August 14, 2008

leJDD.fr:
Géorgie: Les Russes persistent >>> Par Maud Pierron (avec Reuters) | Dimanche 17 Août 2008

SPIEGELONLINE:
Russen zögern Truppenabmarsch hinaus >>> als/dpa/AFP | 17.08.2008

WELTONLINE:
Europa muss Russland die Grenzen aufzeigen: Das russische Vorgehen und die manifeste Unfähigkeit des Westens, es zu stoppen, versetzt nicht nur die Ukraine in größte Unruhe, die damit rechnen muss, als nächstes an die Reihe zu kommen, sondern auch die osteuropäischen EU-Staaten >>> Von Richard Herzinger | 16.08.2008

WELTONLINE:
UKRAINE, ESTLAND, POLEN - Die Angst vorm großen Bruder Russland: Bei Moskaus Ex-Verbündeten wächst die Angst vor dem großen Nachbarn. Länder wie die Ukraine oder Estland haben während des Kaukasus-Kriegs große Solidarität mit Georgien gezeigt. Jetzt nimmt die Sorge zu, dass bei ihnen Ähnliches passieren könnte. Auf der Krim beginnen viele bereits, Geld ins Ausland zu schaffen >>> Von Stephanie Bolzen | 16.08.2008

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British Spies Urged to Come Out of the Closet
TIMESONLINE: The intelligence service MI5 has teamed up with Britain’s leading gay lobby group to recruit more homosexuals and to encourage spies to be open about their sexuality.

MI5, which targets home-grown terrorists and foreign spies, has hired Stonewall to advise on how it can attract a broader range of applicants.

Until the early 1990s gays were barred from sensitive government jobs because of fears that they would be vulnerable to blackmail. The ban followed revelations about the notorious Cambridge spy ring, the 1950s group of Cambridge graduates who worked in the intelligence service. Two of the ringleaders, Guy Burgess and Anthony Blunt, were both gay.

This year MI5 will appear in Stonewall’s graduate recruitment guide, which lists gay-friendly employers.

Since the London Underground bombings on July 7, 2005 MI5 has been expanding rapidly. Staff numbers are expected to hit 3,500 by the end of the year, up from 1,500 in 2001.

The drive to recruit British Muslims and speakers of Asian languages has been well reported, but MI5’s targeting of the gay community will come as something of a surprise.

Ben Summerskill, director of Stonewall, said: “I am optimistic that in 10 to 15 years their [MI5’s] employment profile will look very much like modern Britain. There is no reason why there shouldn’t be a lesbian or gay director-general.” Spies Urged to Come In from the Closet >>> By Jonathan Oliver | August 17, 2008

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Ukraine Offers Satellite Defence Co-operation with Europe and US
THE INDEPENDENT: Ukraine inflamed mounting East-West tensions yesterday by offering up a Soviet-built satellite facility as part of the European missile defence system.

The proposal, made amid growing outrage among Russia's neighbours over its military campaign in Georgia, could see Ukraine added to Moscow's nuclear hitlist. A Russian general declared Poland a target for its arsenal after Warsaw signed a deal with Washington to host interceptor missiles for America's anti-nuclear shield.

The move came as the Russian president, Dmitry Medvedev, signed a cease-fire deal that sets the stage for a Russian troop withdrawal after more than a week of warfare with its neighbour Georgia.

The deal calls for both Russian and Georgian forces to pull back to positions they held before fighting erupted on August 8. As of last night, though, there was little apparent evidence of a Russian pull-out from the Georgian town of Gori, which Russian tanks and troops took last weekend. Russia's foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, insisted a broader withdrawal would be contingent on further security measures.

Just hours before Mr Medvedev put his signature to the ceasefire deal, Russian forces blew up a Georgian railway bridge on the main line west of the capital, Tbilisi, an act that critics interpreted as a malacious attempt to cripple the country's infrastructure. Moscow at first issued a denial, but television footage shot by the Reuters news agency clearly showed the bridge's twisted remains. Ukraine Offers Satellite Defence Co-operation with Europe and US >>> By Damien McElroy in Tbilisi | August 17, 2008

THE TELEGRAPH:
Georgia: Let's Not Start World War III >>> By Mike Jackson* | August 17, 2008

*Sir Mike Jackson served as Chief of the General Staff

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