McCain, Obama urge halt to fighting in Georgia
Candidates condemn violence, call for mutual restraint
Video: Decision '08 |
Bidens, Clintons campaign together in Pennsylvania Oct. 12: Campaigning in the battleground state of Pennsylvania, Hillary Clinton explained to the crowd that the U.S. “will once against rise from the ashes of the Bushes.” NBC’s Ron Allen reports. |
![]() |
Make predictions on news events John McCain will win the presidency |
DES MOINES, Iowa - The major candidates for president on Friday called on Russia and Georgia to end their military action and appealed for more diplomatic efforts aimed at avoiding a full-scale war.
Republican John McCain said Russia should withdraw its forces. Democrat Barack Obama condemned the violence and urged the two sides to show restraint.
Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili has long pledged to take back control of South Ossetia, which battled Georgia for de facto independence in fighting that ended in 1992. On Friday, Moscow sent tanks into the region when Georgia launched a major military offensive to retake the breakaway province.
Campaigning in Iowa, McCain told reporters that the U.S. should convene an emergency session of the U.N. Security Council to resolve the crisis.
"What's most critical now is to avoid further confrontation between Russian and Georgian military forces," McCain said.
The U.S. should work with the European Union to put diplomatic pressure on Russia and help establish an independent peacekeeping force in South Ossetia, McCain said.
Click for related content |
Obama, flying to Hawaii for a vacation from the campaign trail, issued a statement declaring that "Georgia's territorial integrity must be respected."
"All sides should enter into direct talks on behalf of stability in Georgia, and the United States, the United Nations Security Council, and the international community should fully support a peaceful resolution to this crisis," he said.
|
|
- Discuss Story On Newsvine
- Rate Story:
View popularLowHigh - Instant Message
MORE FROM DECISION '08 |
| Add Decision '08 headlines to your news reader: |




