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Russian jets attack Georgian city | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Russian jets have carried out a series of strikes on military targets in the central Georgian city of Gori, close to the breakaway region of South Ossetia. | |
Most of the targets seem to have been military bases, but Georgian officials said a number of civilians had been killed in residential buildings. | |
BBC reporters saw seriously injured civilians being rescued from inside. | |
Earlier, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said his country was seeking "to force the Georgian side to peace". | |
Russian military commanders also announced they were sending more troops into South Ossetia to support its peacekeeping operations. | |
The BBC's James Rogers in Moscow says diplomatic initiatives to end the fighting have so far proved fruitless. | |
In pictures: Unrest in GeorgiaBitterness turns to conflictNo quick fix to conflict | In pictures: Unrest in GeorgiaBitterness turns to conflictNo quick fix to conflict |
On Friday evening, the UN Security Council failed to agree on the wording of a statement calling for a ceasefire. | On Friday evening, the UN Security Council failed to agree on the wording of a statement calling for a ceasefire. |
Russia holds a permanent place on the Council, and has the power of veto over any official statements that it regards as unfair or inaccurate. | Russia holds a permanent place on the Council, and has the power of veto over any official statements that it regards as unfair or inaccurate. |
Permanent members Britain, the US and France, are pinpointing what they say is Russia's aggression as the key factor in the slide towards war, while Moscow insists Georgia is to blame. | Permanent members Britain, the US and France, are pinpointing what they say is Russia's aggression as the key factor in the slide towards war, while Moscow insists Georgia is to blame. |
After days of exchanging heavy fire with the Russian-backed 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 Russian-backed 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. |
In response, Moscow sent armoured units across the border. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said about 1,500 people had so far been killed, including 15 of his country's soldiers. | In response, Moscow sent armoured units across the border. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said about 1,500 people had so far been killed, including 15 of his country's soldiers. |
Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili said 30 Georgians had been killed in two days of fighting and that Russia was at war with his country. | |
'Protecting the population' | 'Protecting the population' |
At a meeting on Saturday morning in the Kremlin with Defence Minister Anatoliy Serdyukov and the head of the Russian Armed Forces, President Medvedev said Russia's military aim was to force the Georgians to stop fighting. | At a meeting on Saturday morning in the Kremlin with Defence Minister Anatoliy Serdyukov and the head of the Russian Armed Forces, President Medvedev said Russia's military aim was to force the Georgians to stop fighting. |
Our peacekeepers and the units attached to them are currently carrying out an operation to force the Georgian side to [agree to] peace Russian President Dmitry Medvedev Q&A: Violence in South OssetiaIn quotes: Strife in GeorgiaSend us your comments | Our peacekeepers and the units attached to them are currently carrying out an operation to force the Georgian side to [agree to] peace Russian President Dmitry Medvedev Q&A: Violence in South OssetiaIn quotes: Strife in GeorgiaSend us your comments |
"Our peacekeepers and the units attached to them are currently carrying out an operation to force the Georgian side to [agree to] peace," he said. | "Our peacekeepers and the units attached to them are currently carrying out an operation to force the Georgian side to [agree to] peace," he said. |
"They also bear the responsibility for protecting the population." | "They also bear the responsibility for protecting the population." |
At the same time, a spokesman for Russian ground forces said reinforcements, including elite paratroopers, were being sent to South Ossetia. | |
Fighting continued around the South Ossetian capital Tskhinvali during the night, although not at the same intensity as on Friday, Russian media reported. | |
Georgia meanwhile said that Russia had launched air strikes on targets inside its territory, in what it described as "a full-scale military invasion". | Georgia meanwhile said that Russia had launched air strikes on targets inside its territory, in what it described as "a full-scale military invasion". |
Russian planes carried out several air attacks on military targets in Gori, where Georgian troops have been massing at three bases to support their forces engaged in South Ossetia. | |
Georgian troops have been massing at three bases in the city of Gori | |
The BBC's Richard Galpin in the city heard loud explosions and saw large plumes of smoke rising into the sky; soldiers and civilians were seen running through the streets. | |
One missile hit a military base, from which most of the soldiers appeared to have managed to escape beforehand, he says. | |
The Georgian military said residential buildings had also been struck, leaving a number of civilians dead. | |
Our correspondent says injured civilians were being pulled from the buildings, which were on fire and that there were clearly a number of serious injuries. | |
The Georgian foreign ministry said the Black Sea port of Poti, which is the site of a major oil shipment facility, had been "devastated" by a Russian aerial bombardment. | |
A spokesman for Georgian President Saakashvili denied the government was intending to impose martial law or evacuate as a precaution any government buildings in the capital, Tbilisi. | |
Hospitals 'overflowing' | Hospitals 'overflowing' |
On Friday, the Russian government said it had to act to defend South Ossetia's civilians, most of whom have been given Russian citizenship. | On Friday, the Russian government said it had to act to defend South Ossetia's civilians, most of whom have been given Russian citizenship. |
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 in on Tskhinvali | 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 in on Tskhinvali |
It also voiced anger over the reported fatalities of Russian servicemen in the breakaway province, vowing not to allow their deaths to go unpunished. | It also voiced anger over the reported fatalities of Russian servicemen in the breakaway province, vowing not to allow their deaths to go unpunished. |
Tskhinvali, where inhabitants are said to be sheltering in basements without electricity or phone lines, is reported to be devastated. | Tskhinvali, where inhabitants are said to be sheltering in basements without electricity or phone lines, is reported to be devastated. |
International Red Cross spokeswoman Anna Nelson said it had received reports that hospitals in Tskhinvali were "overflowing" with casualties. | 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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