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| Heavy fighting in South Ossetia | Heavy fighting in South Ossetia |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Georgian forces and South Ossetian separatists have been exchanging heavy fire just hours after agreeing to a ceasefire and Russian-mediated talks. | Georgian forces and South Ossetian separatists have been exchanging heavy fire just hours after agreeing to a ceasefire and Russian-mediated talks. |
| Russian media reports said Georgia had launched a tank-led attack on the separatist stronghold of Tskhinvali, and airstrikes on rebel positions. | |
| Georgia says it aims to finish "a criminal regime" and restore order. | |
| At least 15 people are reported dead. Moscow called on the world community to work "to avert massive bloodshed". | |
| At Russia's request, members of the UN Security Council are holding a rare emergency session to discuss a response to the escalating violence. | At Russia's request, members of the UN Security Council are holding a rare emergency session to discuss a response to the escalating violence. |
| The BBC's Matthew Collin in Tbilisi says there has been a series of huge explosions and rocket fire in and around Tskhinvali. | The BBC's Matthew Collin in Tbilisi says there has been a series of huge explosions and rocket fire in and around Tskhinvali. |
| Hundreds of fighters from Russia and Georgia's other breakaway region of Abkhazia are reportedly heading to aid the separatist troops. | Hundreds of fighters from Russia and Georgia's other breakaway region of Abkhazia are reportedly heading to aid the separatist troops. |
| 'Perfidious step' | 'Perfidious step' |
| South Ossetian rebel leader Eduard Kokoity told Russia's Interfax news agency that Georgia had launched an all-out attack on the town of Tskhinvali, in what he called "a perfidious and base step". | South Ossetian rebel leader Eduard Kokoity told Russia's Interfax news agency that Georgia had launched an all-out attack on the town of Tskhinvali, in what he called "a perfidious and base step". |
| SOUTH OSSETIA Population: About 70,000 Capital: Tskhinvali Major languages: Ossetian, Georgian, Russian Major religion: Orthodox Christianity Currency: Russian rouble, Georgian lari Caucasus on alertClashes reignite war fears The head of Georgian peacekeepers in South Ossetia said the operation was intended to "restore constitutional order" to the region. | SOUTH OSSETIA Population: About 70,000 Capital: Tskhinvali Major languages: Ossetian, Georgian, Russian Major religion: Orthodox Christianity Currency: Russian rouble, Georgian lari Caucasus on alertClashes reignite war fears The head of Georgian peacekeepers in South Ossetia said the operation was intended to "restore constitutional order" to the region. |
| The Georgian Minister for Integration, Temur Yakobashvili, said Georgia's aim was not to take over the territory but to finish "a criminal regime". | The Georgian Minister for Integration, Temur Yakobashvili, said Georgia's aim was not to take over the territory but to finish "a criminal regime". |
| Days of fierce conflict have raised fears of a new war in the volatile Caucasus. | Days of fierce conflict have raised fears of a new war in the volatile Caucasus. |
| In a televised address, Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili earlier called for the bloodshed to end, but also warned the Russian-backed separatists not to try Tbilisi's patience. | In a televised address, Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili earlier called for the bloodshed to end, but also warned the Russian-backed separatists not to try Tbilisi's patience. |
| A truce was later announced, with emergency talks set for Friday, but by nightfall, both sides were trading heavy fire. | A truce was later announced, with emergency talks set for Friday, but by nightfall, both sides were trading heavy fire. |
| Georgia accuses Russia of arming the South Ossetian authorities - who have been trying to break away since the civil war in the 1990s. Moscow denies the claim. | Georgia accuses Russia of arming the South Ossetian authorities - who have been trying to break away since the civil war in the 1990s. Moscow denies the claim. |
| President Saakashvili has vowed to restore Tbilisi's control over South Ossetia and Abkhazia. | President Saakashvili has vowed to restore Tbilisi's control over South Ossetia and Abkhazia. |
| The Ossetians have traditionally had good relations with Russia, and North Ossetia is part of the Russian Federation. | The Ossetians have traditionally had good relations with Russia, and North Ossetia is part of the Russian Federation. |
| Russia is hostile to Georgia's ambition to join Nato and has accused Georgia of building up its forces around the breakaway regions, where Russian peacekeeping troops are deployed. | Russia is hostile to Georgia's ambition to join Nato and has accused Georgia of building up its forces around the breakaway regions, where Russian peacekeeping troops are deployed. |
Are you in South Ossetia or elsewhere in Georgia? Have you been caught up in events? Send us your comments using the form below: | Are you in South Ossetia or elsewhere in Georgia? Have you been caught up in events? Send us your comments using the form below: |