SunHerald.com : Georgian troops retreat from breakaway province

GORI, Georgia --
Georgian troops retreated from the breakaway province of South Ossetia on Sunday as their U.S.-allied government ordered a cease-fire and pressed for a truce, overwhelmed by Russian firepower in a conflict that threatened to set off a wider war.

Russia deployed a naval squadron off the coast of another of Georgia's separatist regions, Abkhazia, and its jets bombed the outskirts of Tblisi, the Georgian capital.

Georgia's Foreign Ministry said its soldiers were observing a cease-fire on orders of the president and notified Russia's envoy to Tbilisi.

"Georgia expresses its readiness to immediately start negotiations with the Russian Federation on cease-fire and termination of hostilities," the ministry said in a statement.

The Russian Foreign Ministry had no immediate response to the Georgian offer. It came as the U.N. Security Council - where Russia has veto power - met in an open session and European diplomats sought to mediate.

Georgia, whose troops have been trained by American soldiers, began an offensive to regain control over South Ossetia overnight Friday, launching heavy rocket and artillery fire and air strikes that pounded the provincial capital, Tskhinvali.

In response, Russia, which has granted passports to most South Ossetians, launched overwhelming artillery shelling and air attacks on Georgian troops.

Russia has demanded that Georgia pull out its troops from South Ossetia as a condition for a cease-fire. It also urged Georgia to sign a pledge not to use force against South Ossetia as another condition for ending hostilities.

	The Associated Press: AP Top News at 12:00 p.m. EDT	Associated Press - Google	Sun Aug 10	0
	Georgia: In 'state of war' over South Ossetia	Associated Press	Sat Aug 9	36
	Russia takes S.Ossetian capital, Georgia pulls back	Canada.com	Sun Aug 10	0
	Russia opens new front, drives deeper into Georgia	Associated Press	Sun Aug 10	89
	Georgia says it has withdrawn troops from breakaway South Ossetia	Guardian Unlimited	Sun Aug 10	0