For many people who fled South Ossetia, there is an agonising decision to make: do they take the risk of returning home now, or wait until there is confirmation that a complete ceasefire is being respected. In one sanatorium in North Ossetia, more than 300 people have sought refuge.

The US Secretary of State has been in France, as part of her mission to rally support for Georgia. Condoleezza Rice had talks with President Nicolas Sarkozy and the French foreign minister, whose nation currently holds the EU presidency.

Georgia’s two breakaway states have re-affirmed their intention to declare independence. The leaders of South Ossetia and Abkhazia met President Medvedev at the Kremlin, who said Russia supported them and would guarantee their future.