US President Warns Attacks on Georgia 'Dangerous Escalation'

U.S. President George Bush says the fighting between Russia and Georgia in South Ossetia is a threat to peace across the region, and warns that Russia's bombing of targets outside the breakaway region is what he calls a "dangerous escalation" of the conflict.

Mr. Bush spoke to reporters Saturday in Beijing, while attending the Olympic Games.

He called on Russia to end the bombings, and said Georgia's territorial integrity must be respected.

A White House spokesman, Gordon Johndroe, says Mr. Bush reiterated the U.S. position in conversations Saturday with Georgia's President Mikhail Saakashvili and Russian President Dmitri Medvedev.

On Friday, Mr. Bush discussed the conflict with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who also attended the opening ceremony.

The U.N. Security Council is expected to meet again Saturday to discuss the crisis.  Council members failed to reach a consensus on the situation during a second emergency session Friday.

The United States, the European Union and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said Friday they were sending a delegation to Georgia in hopes of securing a cease-fire.

China, which is hosting the Olympics, called for an end to the fighting and urged Russia and Georgia to try to resolve their differences through dialogue.

The International Olympic Committee has expressed sadness over the fighting.  An IOC spokeswoman, Giselle Davies, said the violence was contrary to the Olympic ideal, and not what the world wants to see.

The U.N. refugee agency says thousands of people have fled the fighting in South Ossetia.  The agency says many moved to the North Ossetia-Alania region in Russia, while some have relocated to other parts of Georgia.