Georgia Ceasefire Must Hold - PM
Gordon Brown has called a "permanent solution" to the issue of South Ossetia that has brought Russian and Georgian
troops into conflict in recent days.
Speaking to reporters from his home in Scotland, Mr Brown welcomed the ceasefire agreed by the two sides and said both
had agreed to allow humanitarian aid to be supplied "as quickly as possible".
The PM said:
"We cannot continue with the situation where hostilities are likely. We must bring them to an end by having a permanent
solution to this problem.
"What we must do now is ensure that it's a lasting ceasefire, and that there is humanitarian aid, which we are prepared
to provide for those who are casualties of what has been a terrible set of events.
"It's also important, and we are prepared to contribute to this, that there is humanitarian aid for the people who have
been displaced and for the cities and towns that have been brought into danger."
Mr Brown said he had spoken to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, as well as French President Nicolas Sarkozy, the
current EU President, US President George Bush, and the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon about the situation
in South Ossetia.
ENDS