Presumptive Republican presidential candidate John McCain is calling on Russia to cease military action in Georgia and withdraw its forces.

Campaigning in Iowa on Friday, McCain called for the US to convene an emergency session of the UN Security Council to resolve the crisis.

McCain says the "most critical" step now is to avoid further confrontation between Russian and Georgian military forces."

He says the US should work with the European Union to put diplomatic pressure on Russia and help establish an independent peace keeping force in South Ossetia.