Georgia: Russia signs deal, no troop pull-out

Russia says its troops will stay in Georgia as long as they're needed, resisting international calls to pull them out of the country immediately.

Moscow has followed Georgia in signing a peace deal to end their conflict, but the Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, said they'd only withdraw their forces once additional security measures were in place.

Russia's conflict with Georgia erupted nine days ago over the Georgian breakaway region of South Ossetia, and Russian troops still control large parts of the country.

In Washington, President Bush again repeated his demands for Moscow to honour its agreement, though he said the signing of the deal was a hopeful step.