NR: "Obviously, Georgian officials feel that this is not within the terms of the cease-fire agreement."


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Michael calls in from Gori, reporting that despite the signing of a cease-fire agreement, the Russians are still very much dug in there, which is undisputed Georgian territory. In fact, he is at the location of a key railway bridge that has been destroyed by the Russian troops. Whether the bridge was blown up before or after the signing of the peace deal, it is a clear violation of the spirit of the agreement, and will disrupt Georgian transportation and trade for months.



TJ HOLMES: We want to turn back to the situation happening in the former Soviet Republic of Georgia where fighting has been going on the past week between Georgian and Russian forces.

Cease-fire in place now has been really signed by all sides -- all leaders of all sides here. But we have our Michael Ware on the phone from Gori, Georgia.

Michael, we have the cease-fire that is officially in place but you have noticed that in the real world and there on the ground, the fighting has not ended.

MICHAEL WARE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, T.J., what I can tell you is that despite the signing of the cease-fire agreements by Moscow, Russian troops not only remain here in Georgia proper and in around the city of Gori, but I'm standing on what is left of a railway bridge crossing a key river here in Georgia that was destroyed overnight or early this morning by the Russian military.

I'm still observing Russian armored elements here in the region but the destruction of this bridge is a major message to the Georgian government. It severs a key east-west artery that links the capital Tbilisi with the Black Sea port of Poti.

It's also a symbol from the Russians that they intend to destroy Georgian infrastructure be it for economic or military purposes. Obviously this rail line could move troops and equipment quite rapidly. Obviously Georgian officials feel that this is not within the terms of the cease-fire agreement and the agreement stipulates the immediate withdrawal of Russian troops.

That has not happened. I am still observing Russian armored elements, and the destruction of this bridge, whether it occurred before or after the signing of that agreement, clearly is not within the spirit of the cease-fire.

So this is a key development here in the eastern front in the war in Georgia and it shows that the Russians are still intent on pressing their advantage be it on the eve of their withdrawal or as they intend to remain for a time yet to be determined -- T.J.?

HOLMES: And, again, I guess it was important -- I'm glad you pointed it out there. I was about to ask, when exactly the bridge was destroyed. Well, like you said, if it was right before or right after the signing, it's still not in the spirit of that agreement. Are there any other signs, any other signals like destroying that bridge? Any other aggression, if you will -- we know there hasn't been, I guess, just a quick pullback or pullout by these troops but are they still making any aggressive moves? Are they still showing signs of getting in position to attack or are they attacking?

WARE: Well, there is no combat or exchanges of fire. Certainly there's no bombings or artillery barrages. It's the mere presence of these Russian armored elements that says it all, T.J. And the fact that they are here means that they continue to dominate the terrain and the people and the political environment here.

The Russian military simply has no answer -- I'm sorry, the Georgian military simply has no answer to these Russian troops. So the mere fact of their presence means that this standoff continues and the Russians are obviously bent on pressing whatever claims and whatever gains they have made and they're proving that they are very slow to withdraw and keep to these strict terms of the agreement -- T.J.

HOLMES: All right. Our Michael Ware there on the ground there for us in Gori where he has witnessed some disturbing developments in the light of the cease-fire that is now in place.

Michael Ware, we appreciate you this morning.