Rice urges Russia to agree to cease-fire

WASHINGTON, Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Calm must be restored in Georgia so international efforts to resolve the crisis can begin, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said.

Rice told reporters she was in phone contact with members of foreign ministers of the Group of Seven, being briefed about discussions between French and Russian leaders and French and Georgians leaders.

"It is very important now that all parties cease fire," Rice said. "The Georgians have agreed to a cease-fire. The Russians need to stop their military operations, as they have apparently said that they will, but those military operations really do now need to stop, because calm needs to be restored."

Once calm is restored, international efforts can begin to facilitate the withdrawal of forces from the zone of conflict, she said. Then mediators can take up the issue of how to resolve the longstanding conflicts of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, breakaway republics with historical ties with Russia.

Georgian troops last week began a military operation in South Ossetia to keep the region within Georgia. Russia responded, saying it was protecting its citizens living in the border region.

"I want to make very clear that the United States stands for the territorial integrity of Georgia, for the sovereignty of Georgia, that we support its democratically elected government and its people," she said.