The United States, Nato and the European Union called yesterday for an immediate end to fighting in Georgia's South Ossetia region and called for talks between the sides.
The US asserted its support for Georgia's territorial integrity and urged a ceasefire.
State department spokesman Gonzalo Gallegos said the US was sending an envoy to the region.
"We urge all parties, including Georgians, South Ossetians and Russians to de-escalate and avoid conflict," Mr Gallegos said.
The Pentagon said it had received no request for assistance from Georgian officials since Russian forces entered the country.
US president George Bush and Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin discussed Georgia, White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said, but gave no information about the talks or their timing.
The leaders were seen chatting before a lunch hosted by China for foreign leaders attending the Olympic Games in Beijing.
"The Nato secretary-general [Jaap de Hoop Scheffer] calls on all sides for an immediate end of the armed clashes and calls for direct talks between the parties," a Nato statement said.
A spokesman for EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said: "We repeat our message to all parties to immediately stop the violence."
Mr Solana spoke by telephone to Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, the spokesman said. He was also due to talk to Georgian foreign minister Eka Tkeshelashvili.
France, holder of the EU presidency, said its foreign minister Bernard Kouchner had been in contact with all the parties involved with the aim of achieving a ceasefire.
A French foreign ministry statement reiterated France's support for the territorial integrity of Georgia, a position held by the EU as a whole and by Nato.
The EU has reiterated its willingness to take a greater role in peace efforts.
It said it was in contact with international partners including Russia, Georgia and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe about the situation.
The International Committee of the Red Cross urged the warring sides to allow aid agencies access to civilians in South Ossetia to evacuate the wounded.
"Ambulances are finding it hard to reach injured people and frightened residents are hiding in their basements, without electricity, water, communications or access to services," Dominique Liengme, head of the committee's Georgia delegation said. - (Reuters)