CRAWFORD, Texas (AFP) — The White House on Tuesday demanded that Moscow return any US equipment its forces seized in Georgia, amid reports Russian troops grabbed some US military vehicles.
"If the Russians have it, it needs to be returned immediately," spokesman Gordon Johndroe said as US President George W. Bush followed the Georgia crisis from his ranch near this tiny Texas town.
"But there's conflicting reports on it right now. We'd certainly expect that the Russians would return any equipment that is US equipment and return it quickly, if, in fact, they do have it," Johndroe told reporters.
"There's some, also, indications that they've made that assurance. If they've made that assurance, they need to honor that commitment, as well," he said, describing the reports as "too sketchy" as to the material's location.
Russian forces in Georgia seized five Humvees (High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle) that either belong or had belonged to the US military from the port of Poti, witnesses said.
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