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Michael calls in from Gori, reporting that despite the signing of a cease-fire agreement, the Russians are still very much dug in there, which is undisputed Georgian territory. In fact, he is at the location of a key railway bridge that has been destroyed by the Russian troops. Whether the bridge was blown up before or after the signing of the peace deal, it is a clear violation of the spirit of the agreement, and will disrupt Georgian transportation and trade for months.
TJ HOLMES:
We want to turn back to the situation happening in
the former Soviet Republic of Georgia where fighting
has been going on the past week between Georgian and
Russian forces.
Cease-fire in place now has been really signed by all
sides -- all leaders of all sides here. But we have
our Michael Ware on the phone from Gori, Georgia.
Michael, we have the cease-fire that is officially in
place but you have noticed that in the real world and
there on the ground, the fighting has not ended.
MICHAEL WARE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, T.J., what I
can tell you is that despite the signing of the
cease-fire agreements by Moscow, Russian troops not
only remain here in Georgia proper and in around the
city of Gori, but I'm standing on what is left of a
railway bridge crossing a key river here in Georgia
that was destroyed overnight or early this morning by
the Russian military.
I'm still observing Russian armored elements here in
the region but the destruction of this bridge is a
major message to the Georgian government. It severs a
key east-west artery that links the capital Tbilisi
with the Black Sea port of Poti.
It's also a symbol from the Russians that they intend
to destroy Georgian infrastructure be it for economic
or military purposes. Obviously this rail line could
move troops and equipment quite rapidly. Obviously
Georgian officials feel that this is not within the
terms of the cease-fire agreement and the agreement
stipulates the immediate withdrawal of Russian
troops.
That has not happened. I am still observing Russian
armored elements, and the destruction of this bridge,
whether it occurred before or after the signing of
that agreement, clearly is not within the spirit of
the cease-fire.
So this is a key development here in the eastern
front in the war in Georgia and it shows that the
Russians are still intent on pressing their advantage
be it on the eve of their withdrawal or as they
intend to remain for a time yet to be determined --
T.J.?
HOLMES: And, again, I guess it was important -- I'm
glad you pointed it out there. I was about to ask,
when exactly the bridge was destroyed. Well, like you
said, if it was right before or right after the
signing, it's still not in the spirit of that
agreement. Are there any other signs, any other
signals like destroying that bridge? Any other
aggression, if you will -- we know there hasn't been,
I guess, just a quick pullback or pullout by these
troops but are they still making any aggressive
moves? Are they still showing signs of getting in
position to attack or are they attacking?
WARE: Well, there is no combat or exchanges of fire.
Certainly there's no bombings or artillery barrages.
It's the mere presence of these Russian armored
elements that says it all, T.J. And the fact that
they are here means that they continue to dominate
the terrain and the people and the political
environment here.
The Russian military simply has no answer -- I'm
sorry, the Georgian military simply has no answer to
these Russian troops. So the mere fact of their
presence means that this standoff continues and the
Russians are obviously bent on pressing whatever
claims and whatever gains they have made and they're
proving that they are very slow to withdraw and keep
to these strict terms of the agreement -- T.J.
HOLMES: All right. Our Michael Ware there on the
ground there for us in Gori where he has witnessed
some disturbing developments in the light of the
cease-fire that is now in place.
Michael Ware, we appreciate you this
morning.