Germany called Monday for an immediate ceasefire in Georgia and the withdrawal of troops by both sides in the widening conflict centred on the breakaway South Ossetia region, dpa reported.
Chancellor Angela Merkel had telephoned Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili to call for all hostilities to be halted, official spokesman Thomas Steg said in Berlin.
Georgia's territorial integrity should be respected, he added.
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier had in engaged in intensive telephone diplomacy over the weekend, talking to his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, among others, the Foreign Ministry spokesman said.
Merkel travels to the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi Friday for talks with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. The talks were scheduled before the current round of fighting erupted.
Germany has made provisions for around 300 of its citizens in Georgia to leave the country if they wish. It is also offering facilities to other members of the European Union.