11:34pm UK, Tuesday August 19, 2008

Britain’s Foreign Secretary David Miliband has accused Russia of “not living up to its word” on a commitment to withdraw its troops from Georgia.

David Miliband flanked by French foreign minister Bernard Kouchner (left) and Finland’s Alexander Stubb

Shortly after he spoke, Russia’s UN ambassador rejected a revised French draft resolution in the Security Council demanding full compliance with a ceasefire and a full withdrawal of Russian troops.

Mr Miliband was speaking in Tbilisi after talks with the Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili.

“Every day that goes by beyond the deadline of noon yesterday (Monday) is a day that we see Russia not living up to its word,” he said at a news conference.

“This is not just serious for Georgia but for the reputation of Russia in the world,” he added.

Earlier reports suggested that Russian troops were finally leaving the country.

The Reuters news agency, which has a reporter at the Roki tunnel – on the main road between Russia and Georgia – reported that Russian armoured vehicles had started withdrawing three hours after a Nato meeting to discuss the situation had started

The two countries also exchanged prisoners.

Nato nations have also agreed to toughen their language towards Russia.

The foreign ministers of all 26 Nato countries met in Brussels to reaffirm their support for Georgia.

In a joint statement, the Nato foreign ministers said: ”The Alliance is considering seriously the implications of Russia’s actions for the Nato-Russia relationship.

“We have determined that we cannot continue with business as usual.”

It added: ”We call on Russia to demonstrate – both in word and deed – its continued commitment to the principles upon which we agreed to base our relationship.”

After the meeting in Brussels, Nato Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said Russia was not currently respecting the peace plan signed at the weekend by president Dmitry Medvedev.

Washington called on Nato nations to consider at least suspending ministerial meetings with Russia, but Britain and others said it would be counter-productive to cut channels of communication with Moscow.

Mr Miliband denied suggestions that there was a difference of opinion between Nato members, with the US, Britain and eastern European nations supposedly keener to take a hard line than western European countries.

Since the end of the Cold War, Nato and Russia have managed to agree modest co-operation in areas such as counter-terrorism.

Six years ago they set up a Nato-Russia Council to manage a regular dialogue between the two former foes.

However, Russian prime minister and former president Vladimir Putin is said to be furious at attempts to bring neighbouring countries in its traditional sphere of influence – such as Georgia and Ukraine – into Nato.

Relations with the West have worsened over US plans to set up a missile defence system in Poland and the Czech Republic.

In a diplomatic tit-for-tat, Russia’s navy has cancelled a September visit by a United States navy frigate to a port in Russia’s Far Eastern region of Kamchatka.

The US last week pulled out of a planned four-nation naval exercise with Russia in the Pacific because of Russia’s intervention in Georgia.

Meanwhile, Georgia has accused Russian forces of entering the oil shipment port of Poti on the Black Sea and detaining 20 Georgian police officers.

Interior ministry spokesman Shota Utiashvili said: ”They entered the civilian port and kicked everyone out. The Russians arrested the port security staff, 20 of them. They are police officers.”