(HELSINKI) - Finnish President Tarja Halonen on Monday called on Russia and other South Ossetia conflict parties to stop all military action and allow humanitarian aid deliveries to the region, his office said.

Halonen discussed the conflict with Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev earlier in the day by telephone.

"There is no military solution to this situation," Halonen was quoted as saying to Medvedev.

Halonen said Russia should work to calm down the crisis so negotiations can be started. She also said an international monitoring programme would be needed to stabilise the region.

Medvedev told Halonen he was worried about the humanitarian situation in South Ossetia and noted there were many refugees in Russia's North Ossetia region.

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