US-Russia joint exercises cancelled over Georgia attack

London, Aug.13 : The United States has cancelled a joint naval exercise with Russia after U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice warned Moscow that it's attacks on Georgia have jeopardised its integration into international institutions.

The cancellation of the military exercise, set for next week, is the first concrete disapproval from Washington over Russia's military operations in Georgia and South Ossetia.

"I can assure you that Russia's international reputation and what role Russia can play in the international community is very much at stake here," The Times quoted Rice, as saying.

The exercises were to involve warships from Russia, France, Britain and the US in the Sea of Japan as well as an onshore component in the Russian port of Vladivostok.

It was to have been the latest in a series of joint war games that began in 1988.

"In the wake of this conflict, there is no way that we can proceed with this joint exercise at this time," a senior US defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, was quoted by a foreign news agency.

The announcement came as the U.S. government considered a range of responses to Russia's "disproportionate" attacks on Georgia after demanding Moscow make good on its promise to halt the military offensive.

"The Russians need to stop their military operations, as they have apparently said that they will, but those military operations really do, now, need to stop because calm needs to be restored," Rice told the ABC in America.

ANI