Bush backs Georgia's territorial integrity

BEIJING (Reuters) - President George W. Bush pledged U.S. support for Georgia's territorial integrity and has been updated regularly on the crisis involving Russia in Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia, the White House said on Saturday.

"I want to reiterate on his behalf that the United States supports Georgia's territorial integrity and we call for an immediate ceasefire," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said in a statement in Beijing where Bush was attending the Olympics.

"We urge all parties, Georgians, South Ossetians and Russians, to de-escalate the tension and avoid conflict," she said.

(Reporting by Matt Spetalnick and Jeremy Pelofsky)