Bush tells Russia to reverse course in Georgia

By David Alexander and Sue Pleming

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush told Russia on Monday to end its military action in Georgia and said it appeared Moscow was trying to overthrow the elected government of Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili.

Bush warned that a "dramatic and brutal escalation" of Moscow's push into the smaller country would jeopardize its relations with the West.

"Russia has invaded a sovereign neighboring state and threatens a democratic government elected by its people. Such an action is unacceptable in the 21st century," Bush told reporters at the White House.

Shortly after Bush spoke, Saakashvili said Moscow should know Georgia will not quit.

"Georgia will never surrender," he said on CNN when asked what he would say to Russian officials if they were watching. "They should know Georgia will never surrender."

The crisis began on Thursday when Georgia sent forces to retake South Ossetia, a pro-Russian area that broke from Georgia in the 1990s. Moscow, which supports South Ossetia's independence, responded by sending its troops into Georgia.

The conflict escalated quickly and, by Monday, Georgia appealed for international help and said its military had retreated to defend its capital city, Tbilisi.

Foreign ministers from the world's leading industrial nations urged Russia on Monday to agree to an immediate cease-fire. Washington also sent a special envoy, senior State Department official Matt Bryza, to Tbilisi to join international mediation efforts.