Bush orders aid to Georgia, Rice to visit Tbilisi

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush told Russia on Wednesday to end the crisis with Georgia and ordered Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to Tbilisi to show "unwavering" U.S. support for the former Soviet republic.

Bush, who spoke with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili earlier in the day, also ordered the U.S. military to deliver humanitarian aid to Georgia.

His moves marked Washington's strongest show of support for Georgia since the conflict erupted last week.

"The United States of America stands with the democratically elected government of Georgia. We insist that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia be respected," Bush told reporters at the White House.

"Russia must keep its word and act to end this crisis."

Georgia last week sent forces to retake South Ossetia, a pro-Russian province that threw off Georgian rule in the 1990s. Moscow responded with a massive counter-attack that overwhelmed Georgian forces.

Russia and Georgia agreed to a cease-fire but reports persisted that Moscow was still conducting military assaults.

Flanked by Rice and Defense Secretary Robert Gates in the Rose Garden, Bush said he was concerned about reports that Russian forces were blocking roads and access to the port in Poti, and blowing up Georgian vessels.

While Moscow has denied violating the cease-fire, Bush cited reports that Russian units had taken up positions inside Georgia that allow them to threaten Tbilisi.

The United States expects Russia to stop all military activities in Georgia and withdraw forces that entered in recent days, Bush said.

U.S. AID ON ITS WAY

He also said the United States expected Russia, which had been informed of plans to deliver aid, to allow humanitarian supplies into Georgia and ensure that all lines of communication and transport remain open.

A C-17 aircraft carrying supplies had arrived in Georgia and a second flight was planned for Thursday.

The Pentagon said it did not plan to take control of Georgian airports or ports, contradicting Saakashvili comments that they would be under U.S. control.

"That is not our understanding," Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said.

Bush strongly backed French efforts to broker an agreement to end the conflict and said Rice, who was leaving Washington on Wednesday evening, would meet President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Bush considers his relationship with Russian leaders as "very complex and complicated" but not adversarial, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said.

There is cooperation on nuclear non-proliferation and counterterrorism, "but there's also been areas of strain. And this certainly is one of them," she said.

Bush delayed going to his ranch in Texas for a summer break because of the crisis, Perino said.

Robert Hunter, a former U.S. ambassador to NATO now with the RAND Corporation, said Rice's trip to Tbilisi was important to "show the Russians we are not just backing off," and to coordinate with Saakashvili to "try to make sure he doesn't do anything on his part to make matters worse."

(Additional reporting by Susan Cornwell and Andrew Gray in Washington, David Brunnstrom in Brussels; Editing by Alan Elsner)