WASHINGTON (AFP) — The United States has formally demanded the return of five US military vehicles seized by Russian forces in Georgia but Moscow has not indicated it will do so, a Pentagon spokesman said Friday.
"The United States did demarche the government of Russia with respect to the handful of Humvees," Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said, referring to the military's all-purpose, four wheel vehicles.
"That has not been resolved satisfactorily for us at this point," he said.
Whitman said the Russians responded to the demarche, which is a formal diplomatic representation of a government's views or positions.
He characterized Moscow's response by saying, "They have not given us any positive signs in this regard."
According to witnesses, five Humvees with the letters USMC -- the initials of the US Marine Corps -- emblazoned on them were taken by Russian forces in the Georgian port of Poti.
The Pentagon has said the vehicles had been used in a military exercise and were awaiting shipment out of the country when fighting erupted between Georgia and Russia.
A Russian newspaper said the vehicles contained sophisticated satellite communications gear and had been flown to Moscow to be examined.
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