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Georgia 'calls Ossetia ceasefire' Georgia 'calls Ossetia ceasefire'
(30 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 says it has told its forces to cease fire and offered to hold talks with Russia about South Ossetia.
But Russia said exchanges of fire had not stopped, Interfax news agency said, and Russian bombing raids continued. But Moscow denied that exchanges of fire had stopped, and continued to bomb targets near Georgia's capital Tbilisi, including the airport, reports said.
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 his forces had observed a ceasefire since 0500 on Sunday morning, but had still been bombed by Russian planes. 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 missionPeace 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. Russian jets were still carrying out bombing raids late on Sunday. Witnesses said jets had hit Tbilisi International Airport, as well as a military airfield close to the Georgian capital.
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.
The attack on the airport came only a few hours before the scheduled arrival of French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner and Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb, on a peace mission.
Meanwhile, 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 regionSee 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.
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 AssessmentsARMED 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.
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. Nato Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said Russia had violated Georgia's territorial integrity in South Ossetia and condemned the "disproportionate use of force".
The Russian radio station Echo Moscow reported that two journalists, including a photographer for the Russian news agency Itar-Tass, were shot dead by separatists after entering South Ossetia.
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