TBILISI, Georgia (CNN)  -- Russian forces appeared to be in control of two key Georgian cities early Friday, and there were reports of tanks on the move again.



A woman outside a bombed apartment block in Gori, Georgia, on Thursday.



Russia said Thursday that its withdrawal of Gori would be complete within hours, and the U.S. said it looked like the Russian military was gearing up to leave, but CNN's Michael Ware confirmed that Russian troops were comfortably in control of Gori in the early hours of Friday.



The town was a base for the Georgian military and is near the breakaway South Ossetia province where the conflict began.



Meanwhile, there are reports of Russian vehicles on the move towards Poti, a port city in the west of Georgia.



Georgia's President Mikheil Saakashvili said that more than 100 tanks and other vehicles are traveling in convoy between the cities of Senaki and Kutaisi. CNN has not independently confirmed the claim.



"I appeal for the help of every civilized person in the world to stop this uncivilized, barbarian, inhuman, treacherous, absolutely outrageous behavior, and to save innocent lives," Saakashvili said.



He estimated that Russian soldiers control about one-third of his country and said his government has received 1,400 reports of brutal attacks.



On Thursday, about 200 Russian troops were in Gori, just outside South Ossetia, the U.S. defense official said. A Russian general confirmed troops were in Gori, but said they should be withdrawn within hours.  Watch Russian troops on the road to Tbilisi »



The U.S. official said there were also troops in Poti, having been put ashore in the Black Sea port several days ago. Russians have been accused of bombing targets in Poti, including a military installation and ships.



Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov denied Wednesday that there were Russian troops in Poti. But a CNN crew that tried to drive to Poti on Thursday found the road blocked by Russian soldiers.



U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who has been charged with a major humanitarian mission to Georgia, warned that U.S.-Russian relations could be hurt "for years to come" but ruled out any U.S. military action in the region.



The conflict in Georgia began late last week, when Tbilisi launched a military incursion into South Ossetia in an effort to rout separatist rebels.  Watch some of the destruction in South Ossetia »



Russia -- which supports the separatists, many of whom claim Russian citizenship -- responded the next day, sending tanks across the border into the province.



The conflict quickly spread to parts of Georgia and to Abkhazia, another breakaway region.



Concern beyond Georgia's borders prompted European leaders, spearheaded by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, to mediate a cease-fire deal and U.S. President Bush to offer humanitarian support.



U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is in France. A senior State Department official familiar with the negotiations said she will be going to Tbilisi with a cease-fire document that allows Russia to keep some troops in Georgia, but it will not be the final version of the document.  Watch the latest on Rice's mission »



International agreements signed in the early 1990s allow Russian peacekeepers to maintain a presence in South Ossetia and Abkhazia as part of a force including Georgians and South Ossetians.



Analysts see the conflict as a gamble initiated by Georgia, which is seeking EU and NATO membership, to test the strength of its Western allies in the face of Russia's unwillingness to see the West encroaching on its doorstep.



In five days of fighting, both sides accused the other of targeting civilians, with casualty reports in the thousands. Many more people have fled the fighting into Russia and Georgia, leaving heavily bombarded towns and cities deserted.



Despite Tuesday's cease-fire deal, accusations of ongoing hostilities have continued on both sides, and Russia's incursion into undisputed Georgian territory has adding to confusion fueled doubts that a quick solution to the conflict can be found.  Watch as a reporter is grazed by a bullet »



Russian Gen. Nikolai Uvarov said Russia had invaded Gori because it is Georgia's main military base and an arms munition storage there had
What was the source of the conflict? What started the conflict? What does the Russian military appear to be in control of? How did the conflict begin? What is the Russian military controlling? Where did the millitary appear? Why did the conflict begin? How many tanks are there? Georgia says how many tanks and vehicles moved? Where were over 100 tanks moving?
Tbilisi launched a military incursion into South Ossetia Tbilisi launched a military incursion into South Ossetia two key Georgian cities when Tbilisi launched a military incursion into South Ossetia in an effort to rout separatist rebels. two key Georgian cities two key Georgian cities Tbilisi launched a military incursion into South Ossetia in an effort to rout separatist rebels. more than 100 more than 100 between the cities of Senaki and Kutaisi.
question: What was the source of the conflict?, answer: Tbilisi launched a military incursion into South Ossetia | question: What started the conflict?, answer: Tbilisi launched a military incursion into South Ossetia | question: What does the Russian military appear to be in control of?, answer: two key Georgian cities | question: How did the conflict begin?, answer: when Tbilisi launched a military incursion into South Ossetia in an effort to rout separatist rebels. | question: What is the Russian military controlling?, answer: two key Georgian cities | question: Where did the millitary appear?, answer: two key Georgian cities | question: Why did the conflict begin?, answer: Tbilisi launched a military incursion into South Ossetia in an effort to rout separatist rebels. | question: How many tanks are there?, answer: more than 100 | question: Georgia says how many tanks and vehicles moved?, answer: more than 100 | question: Where were over 100 tanks moving?, answer: between the cities of Senaki and Kutaisi.