U.S. says Russia would violate pact with Georgia patrols

CRAWFORD, Texas (Reuters) - Russia would violate the ceasefire agreement by setting up checkpoints or permanent facilities in Georgia, the White House said on Saturday as Russian soldiers were seen in the Georgian port city of Poti.

Russia has said it has complied with the ceasefire pact by withdrawing most of its forces but continued to patrol the Georgian port city on the Black Sea and Russian soldiers were manning a checkpoint on the main road into the city but were not stopping traffic.

"Putting up permanent facilities and checkpoints are inconsistent with the agreement," said White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said in Texas where U.S. President George W. Bush was spending two weeks at his ranch.

"We are in contact with the various parties to obtain clarification," he said. Moscow has said the troops are carrying out peacekeeping operations and were in compliance with the ceasefire agreement reached earlier this month.

The United States and its Western allies have demanded Russia withdraw all of its military forces out of Georgia and go back to their positions on August 6, before the conflict broke out.

Russia and Georgia went to war after Tbilisi tried to retake the breakaway pro-Russian province of South Ossetia on August 7-8, prompting an overwhelming counter-attack from Moscow.

Russian troops moved into Georgia beyond South Ossetia and a second separatist region of Abkhazia, leading to criticism from the United States and others that Moscow had gone too far.

(Reporting by Jeremy Pelofsky, Editing by Sandra Maler)