Putin assails US over conflict with Georgia

[August 11, 2008]  MOSCOW (AP) -- Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is criticizing the United States for airlifting Georgian troops from Iraq.

Putin said Monday that the U.S. move will hamper efforts to solve Russia's conflict with Georgia over the breakaway province of South Ossetia. The U.S. military has begun flying 2,000 Georgian troops home from Iraq after Georgia recalled them.

The Russian-Georgian conflict blew up after a Georgian offensive to regain control of the breakaway province of South Ossetia.

Georgian troops fled South Ossetia on Sunday, yielding to superior Russian firepower, and Georgian leaders pleaded for a cease-fire. Moscow responded that Georgia was not observing its cease-fire pledge.

[Associated Press]

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