Bush orders aid to Georgia and Rice to visit Tbilisi

By Tabassum Zakaria

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush on Wednesday ordered the Pentagon to deliver aid and sent Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to visit Georgia in the strongest U.S. show of support for its ally since a conflict with Russia erupted.

Bush, who spoke with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili earlier in the day, demanded Moscow end the crisis, abide by an agreed ceasefire and withdraw Russian troops sent to Georgia after fighting began last week.

"The United States of America stands with the democratically elected government of Georgia. We insist that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia be respected," Bush told reporters at the White House.

"Russia must keep its word and act to end this crisis."

Georgia last week sent forces to retake South Ossetia, a pro-Russian province that threw off Georgian rule in the 1990s. Moscow responded with a massive counter-attack that overwhelmed Georgian forces.

Russia also moved beyond separatist areas and into Georgia proper, prompting Rice to say Moscow "seriously overreached."

Russia and Georgia agreed to a ceasefire but reports persisted that Moscow's military activities continued.

Flanked by Rice and Defense Secretary Robert Gates in the Rose Garden, Bush said he was concerned about reports that Russian forces were blocking roads and access to the port in Poti, and blowing up Georgian vessels.