The US is trying to unite the West against Moscow and create a movement against Russia, a country that tries to have good relations with Washington, former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbatchev has said, quoted by AFP. He made the statements in an interview with Vesti 24 on Sunday.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice accused Russia on Thursday of increasing authoritarianism and called on Europeans to stay united and prevent Moscow from taking benefits following its invasion of Georgia.

Washington was the one to "fail" in its policies in the Caucasus and Georgia by arming its "protege" there, Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili, Gorbatchev said.

And he warned about people "linked" to the industrial-military complex and with large enterprises supporting the arms race which need conflicts so that this race continues. Such instigators can be found in the West as well as in Russia, he said.