World fears rise as Georgian conflict intensifies

PARIS  - The United States, Georgia’s strongest ally and military trainer, on Sunday warned Russia to end aggression in the Caucasus or face a diplomatic head-to-head with Washington.

The unspecified threat came as UN observers in Georgia confirmed that a military airport near Tbilisi was bombed and another former Soviet satellite state in Poland, a major US ally which is already a Nato partner, called for an EU stabilisation force to be sent in.

“We have made it clear to the Russians that if the disproportionate and dangerous escalation on the Russian side continues, that this will have a significant long-term impact on US-Russian relations,” Jim Jeffrey, Deputy National Security Advisor, told reporters in Beijing.

Jeffrey added that Georgian troop withdrawal would provide a “test” of Russia’s intentions.

Poland called for EU forces to enter the embattled south Caucasus region as the bloc’s foreign ministers prepare to meet in Brussels on Wednesday to determine its response to the crisis.