'US has deep interest in Caucasus allies'

US Vice-President Dick Cheney yesterday said the United States had a "deep interest" in the security of its allies in the Caucasus, while Russia said US support for Georgia was stirring up instability.

On a visit to Azerbaijan, Mr Cheney also said the US must work with the oil-producing ex-Soviet republic on creating additional energy export routes to Western markets.

Mr Cheney made his comments on the first leg of a tour including Georgia and Ukraine which analysts say is designed to signal that Washington has not turned its back on former Soviet allies following Russia's war with Georgia last month.

The US condemned Russia for sending troops and tanks to crush Georgia's bid to retake its separatist South Ossetia province. Russia said it was protecting civilians and defending its vital national interests in the region.

"We've met this evening in the shadow of the recent Russian invasion of Georgia," Mr Cheney told reporters as he sat next to Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev in an official residence overlooking the Caspian Sea.

"President Bush has sent me here with a clear and simple message for the people of Azerbaijan and this entire region: The US has deep and abiding interests in your well-being and security," he said.

"The US strongly believes that together with the nations of Europe, including Turkey, we must work with Azerbaijan and other countries in the Caucasus and Central Asia on additional routes for energy exports that ensure the free flow of resources," Mr Cheney said. Azerbaijan and Georgia are links in the chain of a Western-backed energy corridor, bypassing Russia, which the West fears could be in jeopardy after the Kremlin sent its troops deep into Georgia.

The US also hopes to persuade former Soviet Central Asian states to export their oil and gas to markets via routes that bypass their traditional ally Russia.