Cheney accuses Russia of intimidation, brute force

By Tabassum Zakaria

CERNOBBIO, Italy (Reuters) - Vice President Dick Cheney, in the sharpest U.S. criticism of Russia since its brief war with Georgia, Saturday accused Moscow of reverting to old tactics of intimidation and using "brute force."

In remarks at an economic conference in northern Italy, Cheney bluntly rebuked Russia, after visiting Azerbaijan, Georgia and Ukraine where he pledged U.S. backing for the former Soviet states.

The conflict erupted early last month when Georgia tried to retake the breakaway region of South Ossetia, and Russia responded with overwhelming force sending tanks and troops into Georgian territory.

The United States and Europe have demanded that Russia pull forces out of Georgia as set out in a French-brokered peace agreement, but Moscow has not yet fully complied.

"This chain of aggressive moves and diplomatic reversals has only intensified the concern that many have about Russia's larger objectives," Cheney said.

"For brutality against a neighbor is simply the latest in a succession of troublesome and unhelpful actions by the Russian government."

U.S.-Russian relations have soured in recent years with the United States accusing Russia of backsliding on democracy and Moscow angered by plans for a U.S. missile defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic.

Tensions escalated since the Georgian conflict as Russia and the United States engage in Cold War style rhetoric. Earlier on Saturday Russian President Dmitry Medvedev accused the United States of provoking Moscow by using warships to deliver relief aid to ally Georgia.