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Our first look at the destroyed bridge. Michael has also spoken with local residents, who told him that the bridge was destroyed seven hours earlier. The Georgian Vice-Prime Minister says that his people are ready to take up arms against the Russians again if they do not start adhering to the cease-fire. The Russians claim that they need time to collect arms and remove booby-traps set by the Georgians. Mmm-hmm.
RANDI
KAYE, CNN ANCHOR: Now the latest on the situation on
the ground in Georgia. CNN's Michael Ware is near the
city of Gori. Michael, what are you seeing there?
MICHAEL WARE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Randi, what I'm
seeing here is the destruction, which is ongoing by
Russian troops in what the Georgian government says
it not only defines of the newly signed cease-fire
agreement but in fact the Georgian government says
the Russians have already broken the cease-fire
agreement. Now just a couple of hours ago I
personally witnessed Russian mechanized infantry not
far from where I'm standing right now about six miles
out of the Georgian city of Gori. That's in Georgia
proper.
But more than that, according to locals, only about
seven hours ago that the Russian military destroyed
this key railway bridge right behind me. That's
clearly another act in breech of the agreement
according to Georgia's vice prime minister, Giorgi
Baramidze. Now, he says that there's absolutely no
point in the Georgian capital Tbilisi making
complaints to Moscow about this or about the ongoing
presence or as he called it the barbarism of the
Russian military here in Georgia because he says
there's no point. He's calling for firmer action from
the United States, the European community, and the
international community at large.
But what I can tell you is that despite whatever
agreements have been signed in the diplomatic levels,
here on the ground the military standoff continues.
The Russian military still flexes its muscles. Not
just by its mere presence but by destroying a key
railway line that links the capital to the black sea
port of Porti and a railway line that carries oil
even for foreign companies like BP. And more
foreboding than that is that despite the fact that
there is few if any real military options left to the
Georgians, the Georgian vice prime minister said that
if this continues, then his country and his people
are prepared to take up the fight again and reignite
this conflict if the Russians do not adhere to the
cease-fire. Randi?
KAYE: Michael, I'm curious. Given what's going on
there, are you seeing any sign at all of the Russian
troops pulling out because as we just heard there
seems to be some confusion. French President Sarkozy,
who helped negotiate this, thinking that once the
cease-fire was signed that Russian troops would be
moving out immediately but the Russian troops
apparently think that they need some time to collect
ammunition, weapons, booby traps which they say were
put out there by Georgia's troops. Have you seen any
sign of withdrawal at all?
WARE: Absolutely not. Quite the opposite, Randi. In
fact, we've seen some consolidation of the Russian
military position. Now remember there are two fronts
for this war. When Russia invaded Georgia just over a
week ago they attacked along two axis, one two the
west and here in the east. Having been on the western
front yesterday, I'm returning again to the eastern
front today. As this evidence behind me shows, the
destruction of this bridge, the Russians not only
continue to operate and maintain their presence but
they're exerting their domination. In fact, to some
degree they're consolidating. Yesterday on the
western front I saw them digging in, which is quite
the opposite to withdrawal.
Now, as for clearing mines or ordnance left by the
Georgians, I'm sure the Georgian government would
argue that that's their responsibility. What it's all
now turning upon is the varying definitions under the
terms of the agreement of immediate withdrawal. Now,
Georgia would like to see that happening today, now.
They want Russian troops out but clearly the Russians
are in no hurry to go anywhere, Randi, and I'm afraid
there's no one or nothing that can really force them
to do otherwise.
KAYE: All right. Our Michael Ware for us on the
ground there in Gori, Georgia. Thank you,
Michael.