Georgian forces and South Ossetian separatists are exchanging heavy fire just hours after agreeing to a ceasefire and Russian-mediated talks.
Georgian forces and South Ossetian separatists are exchanging heavy fire just hours after agreeing to a ceasefire and Russian-mediated talks.
Fighting broke out after a brief lull in a day of heavy gunfire and shelling.
Fighting broke out after a brief lull in a day of heavy gunfire and shelling.
Up to 10 Georgian peacekeepers and civilians have died, Georgia's interior ministry told Reuters news agency.
Up to 10 Georgian peacekeepers and civilians have died, Georgia's interior ministry told Reuters news agency.
Russia, which has close ties with South Ossetia, says Georgia is building up its forces to seize the breakaway province, a claim Georgia denies.
Russia, which has close ties with South Ossetia, says Georgia is building up its forces to seize the breakaway province, a claim Georgia denies.
Days of heavy fighting have raised fears of new war in the volatile Caucasus.
The head of Georgian peacekeepers in South Ossetia said his government had decided to "restore constitutional order" in the breakaway province.
Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili said there had been many casualties, including some deaths.
'Backwards reaction'
In a televised address, he called for the spiral of bloodshed to end, but he also warned the separatists not to try the patience of the Georgian state.
"We had demanded that [the separatists] sit at the negotiating table but all of this was met with a backwards reaction and there was constant shooting," said Brig Gen Mamuka Kurashvili.
Fighting has focused all day near the town of Tskhinvali in South Ossetia.
"The Georgian power-wielding bodies decided to restore constitutional order throughout the whole region."
A truce was announced, with emergency talks set for Friday. But the BBC's Matthew Collin in Tbilisi said Georgia then accused the separatists of opening fire again a few hours after Mr Saakashvili ordered his troops to stop shooting.
South Ossetian rebel leader Eduard Kokoity told Moscow-based Interfax news agency Georgia had launched an all-out attack on the town of Tskhinvali.
By nightfall, both sides were trading heavy fire.
Georgian troops protect ethnic Georgian villages in South Ossetia
Georgian troops protect ethnic Georgian villages in South Ossetia
Georgian officials have claimed separatists in South Ossetia - who have been trying to break away since the civil war in the 1990s - were trying to drag the country into a new conflict and blame Russia for arming them, a claim Moscow denies.
Days of fierce conflict have raised fears of 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 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.
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 another breakaway province, Abkhazia.
President Saakashvili has vowed to restore Tbilisi's control over South Ossetia and another breakaway province, Abkhazia.
The Ossetians have traditionally had good relations with Russia - unlike some of their Caucasus neighbours - 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? What is your reaction to the offer of a ceasefire? Send us your comments using the form below.
Are you in South Ossetia or elsewhere in Georgia? What is your reaction to the offer of a ceasefire? Send us your comments using the form below.
