EU freezes Moscow talks as Georgians hold giant anti-Russia rally (AFP) at Paul Swan

BRUSSELS (AFP) - The European Union on Monday froze talks with Moscow on closer ties until Russian troops withdraw from Georgia, as hundreds of thousands staged an anti-Russian rally in the Georgian capital.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said he would visit both Moscow and Tbilisi next Monday for talks on the Caucasus crisis, accompanied by European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana.

"As long as the withdrawal of troops has not been respected, all meetings on the (EU-Russia) partnership accord are postponed," Barroso told journalists after the extraordinary summit, the first since the Iraq war in 2003.

"It is clear that in the light of recent events, we cannot continue as if nothing has happened," Barroso added.

Sarkozy said the crisis "means that we have to re-examine our relationship with Russia".

"The meeting on September 8 is going to be crucial for relations between the EU and Russia," he said.

The EU's decision at the emergency summit came as Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili hailed a turnout of "one million" protesters who poured into the streets to demonstrate against Russia's military action.

But it coincided with the rebel leader of the separatist buy cheap topamax region at the root of the crisis saying that he plans for South Ossetia to become a part of Russia and to host Russian military bases.

"We aim for this," Eduard Kokoity told journalists Monday when asked if the enclave intended to join Russia.

In a joint summit statement, the European leaders said relations with Russia "have reached a crossroads." They urged Moscow "not to isolate itself from Europe."

Condemning Russia's "disproportionate reaction" in Georgia, they argued that a military solution to the crisis was not acceptable.

The EU voiced support for Georgia , promised help with reconstruction and agreed to send a "fact-finding mission" immediately — with the possibility later of "an increased European Union commitment on the ground."

The EU leaders also committed to organising an international donors conference to drum up aid for Georgia's reconstruction.

EU-Russia relations are currently governed by a partnership accord that dates from the post-communist era of 1997.

After many delays acheter cialis, negotiations on a fresh framework for diplomatic, economic and military relations were finally launched in July, and the next round of the talks had been scheduled for September 15.

"We've had to wait 18 months for the EU to get itself ready," said Russia's ambassador to the European Union, Vladimir Chizhov. &q