Russian President Medvedev slams 'selfish' US policy

Moscow: Russian President Dmitry Medvedev criticised US policy on Wednesday for using the conflict in Georgia as a pretext for Nato encroachment on Russia's borders.

"The conflict in the Caucasus was used as a pretext for sending Nato warships to the Black Sea and then for the forceful foisting on Europe of America's anti-missile systems, which in its turn will entail retaliatory measures by Russia," Medvedev said in his state of the nation speech.

"Tskhinvali's tragedy was a consequence of the US administration's policy which is selfish, cannot stand criticism and prefers unilateral decision," he said, referring to the local capital of South Ossetia