Russian President Calls for Attack on Georgia to Stop

But, according to the Guardian, word hasn't reached the army just yet:

Local residents pass by a damaged building in Gori, Georgia. Photograph: Sergei Grits/AP

Russian forces are reported to be continuing to attack the Georgian central town of Gori today, despite Moscow's claim to have ordered its troops to halt the military offensive.

Explosions in the strategically important town killed at least five civilians, although the Russian general staff denied it was being targeted.

Reports from the scene suggest the explosions may have been caused by mortar fire and not by bombs dropped by jets, as witnesses first thought.

Georgia said it remained "prepared for everything" until there was more evidence of a halt to operations.

Georgia's prime minister Lado Gurgenidze, speaking to Reuters news agency, said, "We will need more evidence, everyone in this situation needs a binding agreement. Until that happens, we are mobilised, we are prepared for everything." Despite the Russian gesture he said "there has been more damage to infrastructure and civilian casualties today".

The Russian president, Dmitry Medvedev, who had ordered an end to the fighting, said a full settlement of the conflict could only be reached if Georgian troops returned to their initial positions, were "partly demilitarised", and there was "a binding agreement on the non-use of force".