Despite claims by the Kremlin that Russian troops are beginning a withdrawal from undisputed Georgian territory, the occupying troops are staying put and even continuing a push towards the capital of Tbilisi. Russian troops continued traveling freely throughout the strategic city of Gori and reportedly had blown up a runway at a military base in Senaki.

There were few signs Russia was following the terms of a cease-fire to end the short war, which has driven tensions between Russia and the West to some of their highest levels since the breakup of the Soviet Union.

In Paris, the French foreign minister said it appeared “we are witnessing the start” of a Russian withdrawal, but warned France would call an emergency meeting of the European Council to talk about consequences for Russia if that was not the case.

The United States military and international media reports on the ground disagree, however. France has done quite enough here. It was Sarkozy who ended up “negotiating” a deal that allowed Russia to continue its movement into Georgia for as long as it wanted. Thank you, Neville Chamberlain.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, on her way to an emergency meeting of NATO foreign ministers, said Russia was playing a “very dangerous game and perhaps one the Russians want to reconsider.”

She said the United States and its allies would not allow Russia to draw a “new line” through Europe and intimidate former Soviet republics and former satellite states…

AP reporters saw four Russian armored personnel carriers, each carrying about 15 men, rolling from Gori to Igoeti, a crossroads town even closer to Tbilisi, passing Georgian soldiers who sat by the roadside.

The Russians moved into Igoeti then turned off onto a side road. As the Russian vehicles rolled past a group of Georgian soldiers and policemen, one swerved and scraped a new Georgian police car. The Georgians looked down at their fingernails.

U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were discussing intelligence reports, said at least one Russian battalion equipped with more than a dozen SS-21 missile launchers had moved into South Ossetia, within range of Tbilisi. Nogovitsyn disputed the claim.

Meanwhile, Russian-backed fighters continue their agression toward reporters. After an AP cameraman refused a fighter’s demand to stop filming, the militant began firing at the ground, wounding him. He ended up handing over the cassette.