Saakashvili: Russia 'occupies' Georgia

TBLISI, Georgia, Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, speaking to a flag-waving crowd outside Parliament in Tblisi Tuesday, accused Russia of occupying half his country.

"As president of Georgia, I stand before you in very difficult circumstances … Yesterday I saw with my own eyes how we were bombed," RIA Novosti quoted him as saying, adding that Georgia would "continue to stand firm" against the "Russian aggressors."

During the speech, Saakashvili announced that his country would leave the Commonwealth of Independent States, calling on Ukraine to follow suit.

"We have decided that Georgia will leave the CIS," he said. "We urge Ukraine and other countries to also leave the Commonwealth of Independent States, which is dominated by Russia."

Russia has said it no longer considers Saakashvili a partner following Georgia's military offensive in the breakaway enclave of South Ossetia last Friday, which Russian officials claim killed at least 1,600 people.