A pullout of Georgian troops from the conflict zone is the only solution to the South Ossetian crisis, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has told US President George W Bush.

Bush earlier today had urged Moscow to halt the bombing immediately saying attacks by Russia outside the war zone of South Ossetia marked a "dangerous escalation" of the crisis.

"I'm deeply concerned about the situation in Georgia," Bush said from the Beijing Olympics. "The attacks are occurring in regions of Georgia far from the zone of conflict in South Ossetia. They mark a dangerous escalation in the crisis."

He said Georgia's territorial integrity must be respected and "we call for an end to the Russian bombings".

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This battle will have major repercussions well beyond this volatile region

Richard Beeston, Foreign Editor

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Meanwhile, Georgia’s president Mikail Saakashvili has called for an immediate ceasefire claiming that Russia had launched a full-scale military invasion on his country, widening its offensive to force back Georgian troops seeking control over South Ossetia.

Georgia's parliament today approved a state of war across the ex-Soviet country, which Saakashvili decreed would be valid for 15 days.

Russia's ambassador to NATO Dmitry Rogozin said that what was happening in Georgia's breakaway region could only be seen as "ethic cleansing and genocide".

Moscow sent hundreds of troops and armed convoys across the border and threatened to bomb Georgian military bases after Georgia, a staunch American ally, launched an offensive on Friday to regain control of South Ossetia.

Russia, which has close ties to the province and posts peacekeepers there, has reacted firmly. Russian forces have fought against Georgian soldiers alongside separatists in South Ossetia and Russian jets have bombed military and civilian targets in Georgia, including attacks on the Georgian town of Gori.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters that the violence had already claimed the lives of 1,500 people. Witnesses said hundreds of civilians had probably been killed and that most of the capital Tskhinvali was in ruins. Saakashvili claimed 30 Georgians have died in the fighting.

Lavrov laid blame on the United States for supporting and training Georgian military forces.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has claimed the troops sent into South Ossetia were on a peacekeeping mission and were there to force Georgia into a ceasefire.

Georgia claims to have shot down 10 Russian planes during the fighting. Deputy Chief of the General Staff Colonel General Anatoly Nogovitsyn, confirmed that two Russian planes were shot down during the fighting.

There have been worldwide calls for an end to the fighting. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urged Russia to halt aircraft and missile attacks and withdraw its forces from Georgian territory. Rice said in a statement that the US wants Russia to respect Georgian sovereignty and agree to negotiations.

The fighting is the worst outbreak of violence in the region since 1992.

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