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| Georgia 'calls Ossetia ceasefire' | Georgia 'calls Ossetia ceasefire' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Georgia has ordered its forces to cease fire, and offered to start talks with Russia over an end to hostilities in South Ossetia, Georgian officials say. | Georgia has ordered its forces to cease fire, and offered to start talks with Russia over an end to hostilities in South Ossetia, Georgian officials say. |
| But Russia said exchanges of fire had not stopped, Interfax news agency said, and Russian bombing raids continued. | But Russia said exchanges of fire had not stopped, Interfax news agency said, and Russian bombing raids continued. |
| Earlier Georgia said its troops had pulled out of the breakaway region and that Russian forces were in control of its capital, Tskhinvali. | Earlier Georgia said its troops had pulled out of the breakaway region and that Russian forces were in control of its capital, Tskhinvali. |
| Thousands of civilians have fled - it is not clear how many have been killed. | Thousands of civilians have fled - it is not clear how many have been killed. |
| Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili told the BBC he saw Russian jets flying over columns of refugees in cars and dropping bombs nearby. | Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili told the BBC he saw Russian jets flying over columns of refugees in cars and dropping bombs nearby. |
| He said his government had been trying "all day" to contact Russia to discuss a ceasefire. | He said his government had been trying "all day" to contact Russia to discuss a ceasefire. |
| Peace mission | Peace mission |
| The United Nations Security Council began meeting for a fourth day on Sunday to discuss the conflict. It has so far failed to agree on the wording of a statement calling for a ceasefire. | The United Nations Security Council began meeting for a fourth day on Sunday to discuss the conflict. It has so far failed to agree on the wording of a statement calling for a ceasefire. |
| See a map of the region | See a map of the region |
| French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner was en route to Georgia on Sunday on a peace mission, along with Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb. | French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner was en route to Georgia on Sunday on a peace mission, along with Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb. |
| Clashes in South Ossetia were reported to be less intense on Sunday, as Russian forces took control and Georgian troops drew back. | Clashes in South Ossetia were reported to be less intense on Sunday, as Russian forces took control and Georgian troops drew back. |
| Local residents fleeing the area on Sunday morning told the BBC there was continued fighting on the outskirts of Tskhinvali, although the city itself was relatively quiet. | Local residents fleeing the area on Sunday morning told the BBC there was continued fighting on the outskirts of Tskhinvali, although the city itself was relatively quiet. |
| ARMED FORCES COMPARED GEORGIA Total personnel: 26,900Main battle tanks (T-72): 82Armoured personnel carriers: 139Combat aircraft (Su-25): SevenHeavy artillery pieces (including Grad rocket launchers): 95 RUSSIA Total personnel: 641,000Main battle tanks (various): 6,717Armoured personnel carriers: 6,388Combat aircraft (various): 1,206Heavy artillery pieces (various): 7,550Source: Jane's Sentinel Country Risk Assessments | ARMED FORCES COMPARED GEORGIA Total personnel: 26,900Main battle tanks (T-72): 82Armoured personnel carriers: 139Combat aircraft (Su-25): SevenHeavy artillery pieces (including Grad rocket launchers): 95 RUSSIA Total personnel: 641,000Main battle tanks (various): 6,717Armoured personnel carriers: 6,388Combat aircraft (various): 1,206Heavy artillery pieces (various): 7,550Source: Jane's Sentinel Country Risk Assessments |
| But Russian jets were still carrying out bombing raids. Jets bombarded a military airfield close to the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, late on Sunday, the AFP news agency reported. | But Russian jets were still carrying out bombing raids. Jets bombarded a military airfield close to the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, late on Sunday, the AFP news agency reported. |
| A Georgian official said Russian planes had also bombed the western town of Zugdidi and Georgian-controlled territory inside Abkhazia. The claims could not be independently verified. | A Georgian official said Russian planes had also bombed the western town of Zugdidi and Georgian-controlled territory inside Abkhazia. The claims could not be independently verified. |
| On Sunday evening the Georgian foreign ministry said in a statement that Georgia "today stopped firing in the South Ossetian conflict zone and is ready to begin talks with Russia on a ceasefire and cessation of hostilities". | On Sunday evening the Georgian foreign ministry said in a statement that Georgia "today stopped firing in the South Ossetian conflict zone and is ready to begin talks with Russia on a ceasefire and cessation of hostilities". |
| It said a note had been passed to the Russian embassy in Georgia to that effect. | It said a note had been passed to the Russian embassy in Georgia to that effect. |
| But a Russian foreign ministry official was quoted by Interfax saying "our information does not confirm the Georgian statement". | But a Russian foreign ministry official was quoted by Interfax saying "our information does not confirm the Georgian statement". |
| "There are indications that exchanges of fire are continuing and the Georgian forces have not been fully withdrawn from the conflict zone," he said. | "There are indications that exchanges of fire are continuing and the Georgian forces have not been fully withdrawn from the conflict zone," he said. |
| The US has described Russia's actions as "dangerous and disproportionate". | The US has described Russia's actions as "dangerous and disproportionate". |
| US Deputy National Security Adviser James Jeffrey said that if the Russian escalation continued, it would have a "significant" long-term impact on relations between the Moscow and Washington. | US Deputy National Security Adviser James Jeffrey said that if the Russian escalation continued, it would have a "significant" long-term impact on relations between the Moscow and Washington. |
| "We're alarmed by this situation," he told reporters in Beijing. | "We're alarmed by this situation," he told reporters in Beijing. |
| Click to return | Click to return |
| Are you in the areas affected by the violence? If you have witnessed anything you want to share with the BBC, please do so using the form below: | Are you in the areas affected by the violence? If you have witnessed anything you want to share with the BBC, please do so using the form below: |
| You can send pictures and video to: | You can send pictures and video to: |
| yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here.Click here to see terms and conditions. | yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here.Click here to see terms and conditions. |
| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |
| Name | Name |