Georgian police, who went back into the town of Gori this morning, are now said to be leaving, as Tbilisi claims Russian troops are “systematically destroying the town’s military infrastructure”.

The self-proclaimed Presidents of Georgia’s breakaway states have signed the peace deal to end the fighting in Georgia. At the Kremlin, President Medvedev assured them that Russia supports and will guarentee any decision they make about their future.

America has warned Russia it faces being cast into the international wilderness if it does not withdraw from Georgia. President Bush despatched his Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to France and Georgia, to underline Washington’s support for Tbilisi and its anger at Moscow’s actions.