(BRUSSELS) - EU leaders were set to threaten Russia Monday with the suspension of strategic talks if Russian forces fail to pull out of Georgia, amid pressure from some nations to take more immediate measures.

The bloc will "examine carefully and deeply the situation and the different dimensions of EU-Russia relations," according to a draft statement prepared for an emergency summit in Brussels dedicated to the Georgia crisis.

"We expect Russia to act responsibly, in line with all its commitments. The Union will remain vigilant," said the statement, adding that the strategic EU-Russia talks could be placed in jeopardy if Moscow does not abide by the terms of a French-brokered peace deal with Tbilisi.

The European leaders were also set to urge Russia not "to isolate itself from Europe."

They were to voice support for Georgia and were expected to give the green light for an observer mission there, as well as agree on the need for an EU special representative for the Georgia crisis.

"We are preparing for an observer mission, a verification mission, in order to see how the plans that have already been approved and signed by the parties are implemented," said EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana.

The statement condemned Russia's "disproportionate reaction" in Georgia and said a military solution to the crisis was not acceptable.

However divisions were apparent over whether the Union should show its anger through tougher and more immediate diplomatic moves.

Poland asked the EU leaders to consider postponing a scheduled summit with Russia in November due to the crisis, according to a text seen by AFP.

Meanwhile Britain was calling for the immediate suspension of the key EU-Russia partnership talks.

"We are clear that in advance of the conclusions of the fundamental review of the EU's relations with Russia, we should suspend negotiations on a successor to the partnership and cooperation agreement between the EU and Russia," British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's spokesman said.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel used a more moderate tone, saying the EU should not cut ties with Moscow but must "speak clearly" following Russia's military action in Georgia and "react in a united way."

The summit was the first chance for the leaders to discuss the crisis since Russia entered Georgia on August 8, one day after Georgia's bid to bring the breakaway South Ossetia region back under central control.

Since then Moscow has recognised the independence of both South Ossetia and the other breakaway Georgian republic of Abkhazia.

Russia has warned it will retaliate against any EU action that threatens its interests, with Russia's foreign ministry urging the 27 countries to refrain from imposing sanctions at the summit.

"I don't think the language of sanctions should be used towards us. We expect the European Union to make a balanced, fair assessment of what happened," said foreign ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko.

To coincide with the extraordinary EU summit, the first since the Iraq war in 2003, huge crowds of Georgians rallied against Russia's occupation, in what officials said was the biggest protest in the ex-Soviet republic's history.

French Prime Minister Francois Fillon said President Nicolas Sarkozy wants to travel to Moscow and Tbilisi in a bid to resolve the crisis which has sparked talk of a new Cold War.

Sarkozy brokered a six-point ceasefire agreement that ended the five-day war between Russia and Georgia in August.

In a change of stance, Georgia said on Sunday that it was not looking for EU sanctions against Russia.

"For us, European sanctions against Russia are not a priority," Foreign Minister Eka Tkeshelashvili said.

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