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| Russian tanks enter South Ossetia | Russian tanks enter South Ossetia |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| Russian tanks are moving towards the capital of Georgia's separatist region of South Ossetia, which has been under heavy bombardment from Georgian forces. | |
| Georgian troops are currently observing a three-hour ceasefire to let civilians leave the besieged capital, Tskhinvali. | Georgian troops are currently observing a three-hour ceasefire to let civilians leave the besieged capital, Tskhinvali. |
| Georgia is reported to have said any involvement of Russian forces in the conflict will result in a state of war between the two countries. | Georgia is reported to have said any involvement of Russian forces in the conflict will result in a state of war between the two countries. |
| Russia says it is sending reinforcements to support peacekeepers. | |
| Reports from Georgia claim Russian jets have attacked an airport near Tbilisi. | |
| Nato, the US and the EU have all called for an immediate end to hostilities. | Nato, the US and the EU have all called for an immediate end to hostilities. |
| At least 15 civilians are reported dead, as well as several Russian peacekeepers based in Tskhinvali. | At least 15 civilians are reported dead, as well as several Russian peacekeepers based in Tskhinvali. |
| I must protect the life and dignity of Russian citizens wherever they are. We will not allow their deaths to go unpunished Dmitry MedvedevRussian President In pictures: Unrest in GeorgiaSend us your comments | I must protect the life and dignity of Russian citizens wherever they are. We will not allow their deaths to go unpunished Dmitry MedvedevRussian President In pictures: Unrest in GeorgiaSend us your comments |
| Georgian President Mikhail Saakasvili told CNN: "Russia is fighting a war with us in our own territory." | |
| Mr Saakashvili, who has called on reservists to sign up for duty, said "150 Russian tanks, armoured personnel carriers and other vehicles" had entered South Ossetia. | |
| "This is a clear intrusion on another country's territory. We have Russian tanks on our territory, jets on our territory in broad daylight," Reuters new agency quoted him as saying. | "This is a clear intrusion on another country's territory. We have Russian tanks on our territory, jets on our territory in broad daylight," Reuters new agency quoted him as saying. |
| "I must also tell you that Georgian forces have downed two Russian jet fighters over Georgia's territory." | "I must also tell you that Georgian forces have downed two Russian jet fighters over Georgia's territory." |
| Russia rejected claims its fighters had attacked Georgian targets and that any had been shot down. | Russia rejected claims its fighters had attacked Georgian targets and that any had been shot down. |
| The Russian defence ministry told Interfax news agency that reinforcements for Russian peacekeepers had been sent to South Ossetia "to help end bloodshed". | |
| Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has promised to defend Russian citizens in South Ossetia. | |
| "I must protect the life and dignity of Russian citizens wherever they are," Interfax quoted him as saying. "We will not allow their deaths to go unpunished. Those responsible will receive a deserved punishment." | "I must protect the life and dignity of Russian citizens wherever they are," Interfax quoted him as saying. "We will not allow their deaths to go unpunished. Those responsible will receive a deserved punishment." |
| Residents of Tskhinvali were reported to have been sheltering in basements as massive explosions rocked the city. Georgian jets also targeted separatist positions. Both sides blamed each other for breaking an earlier ceasefire agreed on Thursday. | Residents of Tskhinvali were reported to have been sheltering in basements as massive explosions rocked the city. Georgian jets also targeted separatist positions. Both sides blamed each other for breaking an earlier ceasefire agreed on Thursday. |
| Georgian Foreign Minister Ekaterine Tkeshelashvili told the BBC the present situation was calm as Georgian troops were observing a unilateral ceasefire which started at 1100GMT. | Georgian Foreign Minister Ekaterine Tkeshelashvili told the BBC the present situation was calm as Georgian troops were observing a unilateral ceasefire which started at 1100GMT. |
| She said they wanted to ensure that any civilians who wanted to leave the conflict zone could do so safely. | She said they wanted to ensure that any civilians who wanted to leave the conflict zone could do so safely. |
| Russian troops | Russian troops |
| An amnesty has also been extended to any separatist fighters willing to lay down their arms, she said. SOUTH OSSETIA TIMELINE 1991-92 S Ossetia fights war to break away from newly independent Georgia; Russia enforces truce2004 Mikhail Saakashvili elected Georgian president, promising to recover lost territories2006 S Ossetians vote for independence in unofficial referendumApril 2008 Russia steps up ties with Abkhazia and South OssetiaJuly 2008 Russia admits flying jets over S Ossetia; Russia and Georgia accuse each other of military build-up7 August 2008 After escalating Georgian-Ossetian clashes, sides agree to ceasefire8 August 2008 Heavy fighting erupts overnight, Georgian forces close on Tskhinvali | An amnesty has also been extended to any separatist fighters willing to lay down their arms, she said. SOUTH OSSETIA TIMELINE 1991-92 S Ossetia fights war to break away from newly independent Georgia; Russia enforces truce2004 Mikhail Saakashvili elected Georgian president, promising to recover lost territories2006 S Ossetians vote for independence in unofficial referendumApril 2008 Russia steps up ties with Abkhazia and South OssetiaJuly 2008 Russia admits flying jets over S Ossetia; Russia and Georgia accuse each other of military build-up7 August 2008 After escalating Georgian-Ossetian clashes, sides agree to ceasefire8 August 2008 Heavy fighting erupts overnight, Georgian forces close on Tskhinvali |
| On reports of Russian forces moving into South Ossetia, she said the Russian Federation's efforts to get involved militarily had to be stopped. | On reports of Russian forces moving into South Ossetia, she said the Russian Federation's efforts to get involved militarily had to be stopped. |
| International Red Cross spokeswoman Anna Nelson said they had received reports that hospitals in Tskhinvali were having trouble coping with the influx of casualties and ambulances were having trouble reaching the injured. | International Red Cross spokeswoman Anna Nelson said they had received reports that hospitals in Tskhinvali were having trouble coping with the influx of casualties and ambulances were having trouble reaching the injured. |
| Irina Gagloyeva, a South Ossetian official in Tskhinvali, described the scene in the besieged city overnight after the Georgian military action started. | |
| "Virtually all the people of the city are in shelters, myself included. It started at midnight, and has barely stopped for a minute," she told the BBC. "Can you hear? That's rockets. All my windows have blown out. Thirty-five thousand residents of our capital have become the hostages of Georgian fascism." | "Virtually all the people of the city are in shelters, myself included. It started at midnight, and has barely stopped for a minute," she told the BBC. "Can you hear? That's rockets. All my windows have blown out. Thirty-five thousand residents of our capital have become the hostages of Georgian fascism." |
| A spokesman for the Russian peacekeepers in South Ossetia told Interfax news agency that Georgian shells directly hit barracks in Tskhinvali, killing several peacekeepers. | A spokesman for the Russian peacekeepers in South Ossetia told Interfax news agency that Georgian shells directly hit barracks in Tskhinvali, killing several peacekeepers. |
| Georgian Prime Minister Lado Gurgenidze said Georgia had simply run out of patience with attacks by separatist militias in recent days and had had to move in to restore peace in South Ossetia. | Georgian Prime Minister Lado Gurgenidze said Georgia had simply run out of patience with attacks by separatist militias in recent days and had had to move in to restore peace in South Ossetia. |
| "As soon as a durable peace takes hold we need to move forward with dialogue and peaceful negotiations," he told reporters. | "As soon as a durable peace takes hold we need to move forward with dialogue and peaceful negotiations," he told reporters. |
| Russian passports | Russian passports |
| Georgia accuses Russia of arming the separatists who have been trying to break away since the civil war in the 1990s. Moscow denies the claim. | Georgia accuses Russia of arming the separatists who have been trying to break away since the civil war in the 1990s. Moscow denies the claim. |
| Russia called an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to respond to the crisis, but members failed to agree on a Russian statement calling on both sides to renounce the use of force. | Russia called an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to respond to the crisis, but members failed to agree on a Russian statement calling on both sides to renounce the use of force. |
| The BBC's James Rodgers in Moscow says Russia has always said it supports the territorial integrity of Georgia but also that it would defend its citizens. Many South Ossetians hold Russian passports. | The BBC's James Rodgers in Moscow says Russia has always said it supports the territorial integrity of Georgia but also that it would defend its citizens. Many South Ossetians hold Russian passports. |
| 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. |
| China, where the Olympic Games opens on Friday, called for worldwide truce during the sporting event. | China, where the Olympic Games opens on Friday, called for worldwide truce during the sporting event. |