Separatist fighters and Russian troops looted and set homes ablaze in Georgian territory on Wednesday amid fears over a fragile ceasefire that ended five days of bitter conflict. Hundreds of South Ossetian rebels with some Russian army personnel went house-to-house in villages near Gori, setting houses ablaze and looting buildings, witnesses said. The United States canceled war games with Russia due to start this week as EU foreign ministers discussed the conflict with Britain leading calls for a reassessment of relations with Moscow. Georgia's President Mikheil Saakashvili said “Russian occupying forces are continuing movements across Georgia despite the ceasefire.” Russia accused Georgia of failing to pursue an “active withdrawal” from South Ossetia. Russia and Georgia agreed to a French-brokered ceasefire on Tuesday. However, the leaders of four ex-communist EU states, Lithuania, Poland, Latvia and Estonia on Wednesday slammed the plan by French President Nicolas Sarkozy to end Moscow's conflict with Tbilisi, saying it failed to protect their ally Georgia. US President George W. Bush was to talk about a “comprehensive approach” to the conflict in Georgia, including humanitarian aid, later Wednesday.
