EU united against Russia agression, says Brown

Gordon Brown today warned that there could be no more "business as usual" with Russia in the wake of Moscow's invasion of Georgia.

The Prime Minister, attending an emergency EU Summit in Brussels to discuss the crisis, said all 27 member states were united in their condemnation of Russia's "aggression" against its smaller neighbour.

Following talks with Georgian Prime Minister Lado Gurgenidze ahead of the main summit, Mr Brown promised humanitarian aid and reconstruction assistance to help Georgia rebuild following the Russian incursion.

He also called for the speeding up of free trade talks between Georgia and the EU and for the relaxation of visa restrictions on visiting Georgian nationals.

"The 27 members of the European Union are totally united in condemning the aggression of the Russian Government," he said.

"We want to send the political support that is necessary for Georgia.

"While we do want good relations with Russia, I think it is pretty clear from what has happened over these last few weeks it cannot be business as usual. Indeed it will not be business as usual until things improve."

Mr Brown said that the summit would send an "immensely important signal" of the EU's determination to see justice was done in relation to Georgia.

Britain, along with Sweden and the Baltic states, has been at the forefront of those European nations pressing for tough action against the Russians.

In a newspaper article at the weekend he called for a "root and branch" review of the the EU's relations with Moscow while suggesting that Russia could be frozen out of the EU.

Britain is also using the summit to press for a possible suspension of the talks on a new strategic partnership between the EU and Russia.

Other EU member states, including France, Germany and Italy, are thought to be more cautious, amid concerns over Europe's dependency on Russia for much of its oil and gas.

Earlier Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov warned the West to drop its support for Georgia.

He made clear that the Kremlin wanted to see the removal of President Mikhail Saakashvili and called for the imposition of an arms embargo on Georgia until a new government was in place.

He said that it would be a "mistake of historic proportions" for the US and its allies to continue to back what he called the "Saakashvili regime."