Demonstrators wave Georgian flags while protesting what they call a Russian intervention in the breakaway Georgian enclave South Ossetia in T'bilisi, yesterday. Georgia called a ceasefire yesterday and said it was pulling its embattled troops out of the disputed province of South Ossetia, submitting to Russia's far superior firepower, but Moscow disputed the pull-out claim. - AP

UNITED NATIONS (AP)

RUSSIA DECLARED itself ready to make peace with Georgia and United Nations (UN) officials confirmed yesterday that Georgia was prepared to negotiate with Russia by withdrawing troops from the breakaway province of South Ossetia and creating a safe travel zone.

The UN Security Council met yesterday for the fourth time in as many days, trying to resolve a conflict that began when United States (US)-allied Georgia tried to control South Ossetia, then said its troops had retreated in the face of Russia's tanks and aircraft.

Council members broke off their three-hour meeting with plans to return either later in the day or today.

The US was preparing a draft resolution that would have the council call for an immediate ceasefire and condemn the Russian action. France also had a draft text in the works. The US and Europeans planned to huddle among themselves later yesterday.

Non-use of force

Russia, which called the first meeting late last Thursday night, hours before its tanks rumbled into Georgia, will only act in 'self-defense', said Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin.

"Let's state clearly that we are ready to put an end to the war, that we will withdraw from South Ossetia, that we will sign an agreement on non-use of force," Churkin proposed.

However, diplomats said major fighting continued in many areas. Russia also has deployed a naval squadron off the coast of Abkhazia, and its aircraft bombed the outskirts of Tbilisi, the Georgian capital.

Georgia's Foreign Ministry said its soldiers were observing a ceasefire on orders of the president and notified Russia's envoy to Tbilisi.

"They're ready for immediate talks with the Russian Federation," confirmed UN Undersecretary-General for Political Affairs B. Lynne Pascoe during a briefing to the Security Council. He said Georgia's "humanitarian corridor" for civilians, refugees and troops would help facilitate the negotiations.

But Georgia's ambassador, Irakli Alasania, said it was "Russia's intention to erase Georgian statehood, to exterminate Georgian people."

Churkin, meanwhile, accused Georgia of waging "genocide" against South Ossetians.

Churkin also accused the UN secretary-general's office of taking Georgia's side.

Impartial

Responding to those remarks, British Deputy Ambassador Karen Pierce defended UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's office as impartial. "An attack on the secretariat is an attack on the institution," she said. "It does it no credit."

Ban's office had said late Saturday night he was "alarmed by the escalation of hostilities in Georgia" and also "profoundly concerned over mounting tensions in the Abkhaz zone of conflict, including the bombing of the Upper Kodori Valley and the ongoing military build-up along the security zone."