Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has today accused the White House of sparking the conflict in Georgia in order to benefit its favoured candidate in the November 4 US elections.
Putin has told CNN someone in the US needed a short victorious war, and if it didn't work out they could blame Russia and make his country look like the enemy.
US President George W. Bush has dismissed the charge as patently false and irrational.
The tight US elections race pits Democrat Barack Obama against Bush's chosen heir, Republican John McCain, who has taken a hard line against Russia over the Georgia conflict.