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| Russian forces battle Georgians | Russian forces battle Georgians |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Russian forces are locked in fierce clashes with Georgia inside its breakaway South Ossetia region, reports say, amid fears of all-out war. | Russian forces are locked in fierce clashes with Georgia inside its breakaway South Ossetia region, reports say, amid fears of all-out war. |
| Moscow sent armoured units across the border after Georgia moved against Russian-backed separatists. | Moscow sent armoured units across the border after Georgia moved against Russian-backed separatists. |
| Russia says 12 of its soldiers are dead, and separatists estimate that 1,400 civilians have died. | Russia says 12 of its soldiers are dead, and separatists estimate that 1,400 civilians have died. |
| Georgia accuses Russia of waging war, and says it has suffered heavy losses in bombing raids, which Russia denies. | |
| Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili says he is willing to agree an immediate ceasefire | Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili says he is willing to agree an immediate ceasefire |
| Russian tanks have reportedly reached the northern suburbs of the regional capital, Tskhinvali, and there were conflicting claims about who was in control of the city. | Russian tanks have reportedly reached the northern suburbs of the regional capital, Tskhinvali, and there were conflicting claims about who was in control of the city. |
| "Now our peacekeepers are waging a fierce battle with regular forces from the Georgian army in the southern region of Tskhinvali," a Russian military official was quoted as saying by Moscow-based news agency, Interfax. | |
| After days of exchanging heavy fire with the separatists, Georgian forces moved on Thursday night to regain control of the region, which has had de facto independence since a war against Georgia that ended in 1992. | After days of exchanging heavy fire with the separatists, Georgian forces moved on Thursday night to regain control of the region, which has had de facto independence since a war against Georgia that ended in 1992. |
| I saw bodies lying on the streets, around ruined buildings, in cars. It's impossible to count them now Lyudmila OstayevaTskhinvali resident In pictures: Unrest in GeorgiaBitterness turns to conflict | I saw bodies lying on the streets, around ruined buildings, in cars. It's impossible to count them now Lyudmila OstayevaTskhinvali resident In pictures: Unrest in GeorgiaBitterness turns to conflict |
| Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili said Russia was at war with his country. | |
| He told the BBC: "Our troops are attacked by thousands of troops coming in from Russia." | He told the BBC: "Our troops are attacked by thousands of troops coming in from Russia." |
| He said Georgia had shot down several Russian planes and accused Moscow of bombing Georgian air bases and towns, resulting in the death of 30 military personnel and civilians. | He said Georgia had shot down several Russian planes and accused Moscow of bombing Georgian air bases and towns, resulting in the death of 30 military personnel and civilians. |
| Despite denials from Moscow, the Russian air force has been carrying out air raids in South Ossetia and Georgia itself, says the BBC's Richard Galpin, in Gori, eastern Georgia. | Despite denials from Moscow, the Russian air force has been carrying out air raids in South Ossetia and Georgia itself, says the BBC's Richard Galpin, in Gori, eastern Georgia. |
| 'Ethnic cleansing' | 'Ethnic cleansing' |
| Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said he had to act to defend South Ossetia's civilians, most of whom have been given Russian citizenship. | Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said he had to act to defend South Ossetia's civilians, most of whom have been given Russian citizenship. |
| He also voiced anger over the reported fatalities of Russian servicemen in the breakaway province. | He also voiced anger over the reported fatalities of Russian servicemen in the breakaway province. |
| Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov | Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov |
| "We will not allow their deaths to go unpunished," he said. "Those responsible will receive a deserved punishment." | "We will not allow their deaths to go unpunished," he said. "Those responsible will receive a deserved punishment." |
| Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow had received reports that villages in South Ossetia were being ethnically cleansed. | Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow had received reports that villages in South Ossetia were being ethnically cleansed. |
| The BBC's Matthew Collin in Tbilisi says battles continue around Tskhinvali with the sound of explosions, rocket fire and military planes flying overhead. | The BBC's Matthew Collin in Tbilisi says battles continue around Tskhinvali with the sound of explosions, rocket fire and military planes flying overhead. |
| Witnesses said the regional capital was devastated. | Witnesses said the regional capital was devastated. |
| 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 Send us your commentsQ&A: Violence in South OssetiaIn quotes: Strife in Georgia | 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 Send us your commentsQ&A: Violence in South OssetiaIn quotes: Strife in Georgia |
| Fleeing resident Lyudmila Ostayeva, 50, told AP news agency: "I saw bodies lying on the streets, around ruined buildings, in cars. It's impossible to count them now. There is hardly a single building left undamaged." | Fleeing resident Lyudmila Ostayeva, 50, told AP news agency: "I saw bodies lying on the streets, around ruined buildings, in cars. It's impossible to count them now. There is hardly a single building left undamaged." |
| International Red Cross spokeswoman Anna Nelson said it had received reports that hospitals in Tskhinvali were "overflowing" with casualties. | |
| In other developments: | In other developments: |
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