Brown urges lasting Georgia peace

Russia says it has ended military operations in Georgia

Gordon Brown has called for a lasting ceasefire in Georgia and immediate talks aimed at finding a permanent solution to its dispute with Russia.

"We cannot continue with a situation where hostilities are likely. We must bring them to an end," the PM said.

Mr Brown said he had told Russian President Dmitry Medvedev "very directly" that "Russian aggression" has been condemned throughout the world.

He also said the UK would help provide humanitarian aid to the region.

President Medvedev has ordered an end to military operations against Georgia in South Ossetia, the Kremlin says.

He told officials that the safety of Russian citizens and peacekeepers in the region had been restored.

'No justification'

French President Nicolas Sarkozy, acting as mediator, has now agreed an outline plan with Russia and Georgia to try to resolve the five-day conflict.

This must not be a temporary ceasefire, it must be a lasting ceasefire Gordon Brown Prime minister

Each side has accused the other of breaking ceasefire accords, and analysts warn that the two remain far apart on a number of issues.

Mr Brown has said there was "no justification" for Russia's actions in Georgia - and he criticised its apparent slowness to react to an offer of a ceasefire.

He told BBC News: "It is absolutely clear to us that while Georgia offered a ceasefire, it has taken time for Russia to respond.

"Now that they have responded, this must not be a temporary ceasefire, it must be a lasting ceasefire.

"And it must now lead immediately, as President Sarkozy has proposed in Moscow today, to talks that will lead to a lasting solution to what has been a problem for many years."

'Disproportionate force'

He said humanitarian aid should be allowed in to the area "as quickly as possible" to help people displaced by the conflict - something he said both President Medvedev and the Georgian premier had agreed to.

Mr Brown has also held discussions with US President George Bush, France's President Nicolas Sarkozy and UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon on the crisis in recent days.

We and our allies must not beat around the bush in condemning Russia very clearly David Cameron Conservative leader

A spokeswoman for David Cameron told the BBC the Conservative leader had spoken to the Georgian prime minister by phone on Tuesday afternoon.

Mr Cameron had earlier called on Britain and the West to do more to prevent Russian aggression.

"If you leave aggression to go unchecked you only store up graver problems for the future," the Tory leader warned.

"Russia has used massive and disproportionate force against an independent and sovereign democracy.

"This is completely unacceptable under international law and we and our allies must not beat around the bush in condemning Russia very clearly."

He called on Mr Brown to step up diplomatic pressure on Russia over its actions.

'Damaged reputation'

And he suggested a debate on the crisis at the UN General Assembly, suspension of UK visas for some Russian nationals and possible suspension of Russian membership of G8.

He also urged a clear timetable for Georgian membership of NATO.

Edward Davey, the Lib Dem foreign affairs spokesman, welcomed reports that Russia had ordered an end to its military operations, but called on the EU and others to "show tough resolve in helping to negotiate a lasting peace".

"Russia must be made to realise that its actions have seriously damaged its reputation," he said.

"As part of the rehabilitation of the region, any future peacekeeping force in Abkhazia and South Ossetia must be independent and not based on Russian forces."

"There is a clear responsibility on the Russian government to bring this conflict quickly to an end," he said.