Russia ordered a halt to military action in Georgia on Tuesday, after five days of air and land attacks sent Georgia’s army into headlong retreat and left towns and military bases destroyed.

Georgian officials insisted that Russia has continued the bombings despite the pledge, but Russia denied that.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced at a press conference Tuesday that they have endorsed a plan in which both Russian and Georgian troops withdraw to their initial positions in Georgia.

According to the endorsed plan, Russian peacekeepers will remain in Georgia’s breakaway provinces.

The plan also calls for a fuller discussion on the future status of Georgia’s two breakaway provinces. Medvedev says breakaway provinces must be able to decide for themselves whether to remain in Georgia.

Medvedev also slammed Georgian leader Mikhail Saakashvili, saying he acted like a “lunatic,” Reuters reported.

“You know, lunatics’ difference from other people is that when they smell blood it is very difficult to stop them. So you have to use surgery,” Medvedev told reporters during the press conference with Sarkozy.

Russia is claiming to have backed off… Georgia says they’re full of it…

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