CERNOBBIO, September 6, 2008 (AFP) - Russia 'fueled' internal strife in Georgia and committed 'acts of war' against democracy, US Vice President Dick Cheney said Saturday.

'Russian forces crossed an internationally recognized border, into a sovereign state, fueled and fomented an internal conflict, conducted acts of war without regard for innocent life, killing civilians and causing the displacement of tens of thousands,' Cheney told a global security conference.

'All this against a nation that has a democratically elected government and an orientation towards the West.'