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| UK makes Ossetia ceasefire call | UK makes Ossetia ceasefire call |
| (11 minutes later) | |
| The British government has called for an immediate ceasefire in the Georgian region of South Ossetia and for peace talks to begin. | |
| Heavy fighting has broken out between Russian and Georgian forces over control of the breakaway region. | |
| Foreign Secretary David Miliband said: "The UK will be discussing with all our partners how to stop the spread of violence and secure a ceasefire." | Foreign Secretary David Miliband said: "The UK will be discussing with all our partners how to stop the spread of violence and secure a ceasefire." |
| The Foreign Office is advising against all non-essential travel to Georgia. | The Foreign Office is advising against all non-essential travel to Georgia. |
| In a statement Mr Miliband said: "The UK government is deeply concerned by the violence in Georgia. | |
| "The escalation in fighting is dangerously destabilising and there is also the threat of civilian losses on a large scale. | |
| We seek an immediate ceasefire and we think that these matters should be settled by political dialogue Defence Secretary Des Browne | |
| "Reports of fighting and bombing outside South Ossetia are especially disturbing as they represent a broadening and deepening of the conflict. | |
| "I am today holding high level consultations with European foreign ministers and with the US secretary of state." | |
| In an interview with the BBC, Defence Secretary Des Browne also called on all sides in the conflict to show restraint. | |
| Mr Browne said: "We condemn this violence, as has the United States, the European Union, the UN Secretary General, the OSCE (Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe) and Nato. | |
| "We seek an immediate ceasefire and we think that these matters should be settled by political dialogue." | |
| The British Ambassador to Georgia Denis Keefe has written to British citizens in the country advising them to stock up on water, food and fuel. | |
| In the statement he said there was "no immediate cause for alarm" but advised against all travel to the separatist regions of South Ossieta, Abkhazia, and the upper Kodori. |