Kavkaz

SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) – Russia hopes the crisis in Georgia will not disrupt strategically important relations between the United States and Russia, a top Kremlin aide said on Tuesday.

NAZRAN, Russia (Reuters) – Masked police in the southern Russian region of Ingushetia used batons to break up an anti-government protest on Tuesday, two days after an opposition leader died in police custody.

It has been described as a diplomatic slap on the wrist.The European Union has decided to freeze talks with Moscow on closer ties until Russian troops withdraw from Georgia. The extraordinary summit in Brussels was the first to be called since the outbreak of the war in Iraq in 2003.

Russia’s Ambassador to the EU has warned that the bloc will lose out by suspending long-delayed talks on a framework for new relations as retaliation for the military campaign in Georgia.

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Union will warn Russia on Monday that relations could suffer in future if Moscow does not uphold accords to end the Georgia conflict, according to a draft summit statement that shied away from sanctions.

PARIS (Reuters) – President Nicolas Sarkozy is ready to revisit Moscow and Tbilisi to help resolve the Russian-Georgian conflict, French Prime Minister Francois Fillon said on Monday.

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – EU leaders meet in an extraordinary session on Monday to try to unite behind a strong response to Russia’s actions in Georgia, but Moscow warned it would hit back at any threat to its interests at home or abroad.

CANBERRA (Reuters) – Australia said on Monday it was reconsidering a deal to sell nuclear fuel to Moscow after Russia’s military incursion into Georgia.

European leaders are gathering in Brussels, for a summit on the crisis over Russia and Georgia. The EU President Sarkozy wants a clear, unanimous message to emerge, possibly including sanctions.

Georgia has called for Europe to send a tough message to Moscow, in the face of what President Saakashvili Russia’s lawless aggression. He demanded an unequivocal response, and respect for Georgia’s territorial integrity.