Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) and troop trucks blocked the bridge to the Black Sea port city of Poti, and Russian forces excavated trenches and set up mortars facing the city. Another group of APCs and trucks were positioned in a nearby wooded area.

Although Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has promised that his forces would pull back by Friday, Russian troops appear to be digging in, raising concern about whether Moscow is aiming for a lengthy occupation of its neighbour.

Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili said that Russia was thinning out its presence in some occupied towns but was seizing other strategic spots. He called the Russian moves “some kind of deception game.”

“(The Russians) are making fun of the world,” he declared.

An EU-sponsored cease-fire says both Russian and Georgian forces must move back to positions they held before fighting broke out on August 7.

The agreement also says Russian forces can work in a so-called “security zone” that extends more than four miles into Georgia from South Ossetia.

Recognition sought
The parliament of another pro-Russia separatist region, Abkhazia, urged Russia on Wednesday to recognise its independence. Meanwhile RIA Novosti reports from Moscow said that Abkhazia has sent an appeal to Russia to recognise its independence, the republic’s president said.

Sergei Bagapsh said he expected South Ossetia, another breakaway province of Georgia, to send a similar request in the coming days.

In Abkhazia’s capital, Sukhumi, more than 47,000 people gathered on Thursday at the central square to show support for the appeal.

“It has become clear that Abkhazia will not live in the same state with Georgia,” parliament speaker Nugzar Ashuba told the rally.

On Wednesday, the proclamation was backed by all 26 MPs attending an extraordinary session of Abkhazia’s parliament.

The MPs also adopted an appeal to the parliaments and governments of other countries.