Georgia invasion prompts Canada to pull out of military exercise with Russia

"We do call on Russia to respect the territorial integrity of Georgia," Harper said Thursday following a funding announcement in eastern Newfoundland.

"I am deeply troubled by a notion I see developing in Russia, and that is a notion that Russia somehow has a say or some control over countries outside of its borders."

Later Thursday in Fredericton, Defence Minister Peter MacKay gave force to Harper's concern by announcing Canada's withdrawal from a planned military exercise with Russia.

MacKay said Canada and the United States had planned to participate in a NORAD exercise with Russia to be called "Vigilant Eagle."

He said the United States also has pulled out of the operation.

"Clearly it would be inappropriate in the circumstances based on Russia's breach of territorial integrity in Georgia," MacKay told reporters.

"It's important to stand strong with our allies in sending a message that based on that type of aggressive behaviour, we will not participate in that exercise."

MacKay said he hopes Russia gets the message.

"It's a message that says, 'The world is noticing your actions,' " he said.

Harper said Canada was very troubled by the ongoing conflict and bloodshed in Georgia and he called on both sides to respect a recent ceasefire agreement.

"In my judgment, this is a very worrisome development. It really indicates a Soviet-era mentality. And I think it is something that all democratic countries should speak out strongly against and I hope Russia will reconsider its actions."

Explosions were heard Thursday near the town of Gori as a Russian troop withdrawal from the strategic city seemed to collapse and the ceasefire appeared even more shaky.

Meanwhile, Russia's foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, declared that the world "can forget about any talk about Georgia's territorial integrity."

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev held a meeting Thursday with the leaders of Georgia's two separatist provinces.

Gori is near South Ossetia, the separatist region where Russian and Georgian forces recently fought a brutal five-day battle.

Besides the hundreds killed since hostilities broke out last week, the United Nations estimates 100,000 Georgians have been uprooted.