US Department of State categorical in calling RF to leave Georgia

Russia should cease shirking its obligations to withdraw troops and "clear off" Georgia, said Sean McCormack, press secretary of the US Department of State, on September 10.

"These guys are all the time trying to shirk their obligations," Mr McCormack has stated.

"We watch it starting from August and till now. They should clear off Georgia and stop explaining away," he added.

In this context, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who stated earlier that his country completely supported Russia's decision to recognize the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, said on September 10 that the temporary presence of Russian Tu-160 strategic bombers in Venezuela had nothing to do with the events in the Caucasus.

He has refuted earlier accusations that the arrival of two strategic aircrafts of Russian Air Forces means revival of "the cold war" and "Russia's answer to Venezuela's support in the Caucasian developments."

The Russian bombers arrived to Venezuela for trial flights, the President has noted.

"Pro-American politicians 'got into a tantrum' because of the forthcoming visit of Russian warships to Venezuela, but they wouldn't notice the presence of the US 4th Fleet and nuclear submarines in the immediate proximity from Venezuelan territory," the ITAR-TASS quotes Chavez as saying.

Meanwhile, according to the "Rosbalt", on September 10, a group of four NATO warships quitted the Black Sea after the end of scheduled manoeuvres. The group included warships of Germany, Spain, Poland and USA.