This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/7554507.stm

The article has changed 25 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 19 Version 20
Russian troops in Georgia advance Russian troops advance in Georgia
(about 2 hours later)
Russian forces have entered Georgia from the breakaway region of Abkhazia, as the conflict between the two neighbours appears to be broadening. Russian forces have entered Georgia from the breakaway region of Abkhazia in an apparent broadening of the conflict over South Ossetia.
Moscow said troops had raided the town of Senaki to destroy a military base. It later said they had left the town. Moscow said troops had raided the town of Senaki to destroy a military base before leaving again.
Russian troops also pushed into Georgia from South Ossetia and were now outside the town of Gori, Georgia said. Georgia said Russian troops had also pushed into Georgia from South Ossetia itself, approaching the town of Gori.
US President George W Bush said it seemed "efforts might be under way to depose" the Georgian government. The US president strongly criticised Russia, saying it might be planning to depose the Georgian government.
Expressing his concern about the "dramatic and brutal escalation" of the conflict, Mr Bush called on Russia to reverse the course it appeared to be on. Correspondents say it was some of the strongest US language about Russia in years.
Russia's government must respect Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty US President George W Bush "Russia has invaded a sovereign neighbouring state and threatens a democratic government elected by its people," George W Bush said in Washington.
The UN Security Council is currently meeting in New York to discuss a draft resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire. "Such an action is unacceptable in the 21st Century."
Reports say that Russian troops now control many key bridges and roads across Georgia, leaving the capital, Tbilisi, isolated. The Russian government must reverse the course it appears to be on US President George W Bush class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7554925.stm">Diplomatic mood darkens class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7555155.stm">Russia actions confound allies
The current hostilities began late last week when Georgian forces launched a surprise attack to regain control of South Ossetia, which has had de facto independence since the end of a civil war in 1992. But Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin accused Western states of turning a blind eye to alleged atrocities by Georgia's forces during their surprise offensive last week.
Fighting erupted last Thursday night when Georgia sent its army to regain control of South Ossetia which, like Abkhazia, has had de facto independence since the early 1990s, with Russian backing.
Click to view a map of the region Click to view a map of the region
The move followed days of exchanges of heavy fire with the Russian-backed separatists. In response to the Georgian crackdown, Moscow sent armoured units into South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Russia poured armour and troops into the region, ejecting the Georgians, and now appears to control many key bridges and roads across the country.
Russian denial The UN Security Council in New York is discussing a draft resolution on an immediate ceasefire
Russia confirmed for the first time on Monday it had advanced beyond the borders of Abkhazia, saying it had launched an operation in the town of Senaki. And French President Nicolas Sarkozy is to hold talks in both Moscow and Georgia on Tuesday.
Later, a Russian defence official told Russian news agencies that its forces had withdrawn from Senaki and that they had forced out a Georgian unit which could have shelled South Ossetia. 'Dramatic and brutal'
Our visits to these hospitals confirm that local medical facilities are dealing with a large number of wounded and dead Dominik StillhartRed Cross class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7553390.stm">Lessons from South Ossetia class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7555061.stm">Georgian exodus as fighting rages class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7554925.stm">Diplomatic mood darkens class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7555155.stm">Russia actions confound allies Speaking moments after he arrived back in the US from the Beijing Olympics, President Bush said he was deeply concerned about reports of Russian intentions.
Georgian officials also accused Russian troops of moving into the town of Zugdidi, near Abkhazia.
The Russians had issued an ultimatum to Georgian forces to disarm or face attack, and proceeded to occupy government buildings there, they added.
The conflict over South Ossetia also appeared to have widened when Georgia accused Russia of capturing the town of Gori, just 76km (47 miles) from Tbilisi.
"This is a total onslaught," Georgia's National Security Council secretary Alexander Lomaia told the AFP news agency, adding that Georgian troops were pulling back to defend Tbilisi.
Russia's defence ministry quickly issued a statement rejecting the claim, saying there were none of its troops in Gori.
Later, a spokesman for the Georgian interior ministry told the BBC that there had never been Russian troops in Gori.
He said the Russian army had taken up a position just outside the town after destroying a military base and admitted Georgian troops had fled the area without putting up a fight.
US President George W Bush statement on GeorgiaUS President George W Bush statement on Georgia
Georgian Prime Minister Lado Gurgenidze said he regretted that events had developed "without our Western partners intervening more actively". He said he had seen reports that Russia might soon attack the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, which would, he said, represent a "dramatic and brutal escalation" of the conflict.
The head of the Georgian National Security Council has said that Russian troops now control many key bridges and roads across Georgia. "Russia's government must respect Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty," he said.
The BBC's Natalia Antelava says this leaves Tbilisi isolated from much of the country, and that has caused visible panic. "The Russian government must reverse the course it appears to be on."
Residents of the capital have been queuing at petrol stations and in super markets, even though the government has promised that supplies of fuel and food will not run out, she says. Russia's actions, Mr Bush added, were "jeopardising" its relations with the US and EU.
Nato plea He urged Moscow to accept an EU-brokered peace agreement that Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili has already signed.
In his statement late on Monday, Mr Bush warned that Russia's action so far was endangering its relations with the United States and Europe. This was the strongest statement yet from President Bush and appeared to be aimed at drawing a line in the sand, preventing Russia from overthrowing the Georgian government, the BBC's Justin Webb reports from Washington.
He urged Moscow to accept an EU-brokered peace agreement that Georgia's president has already signed. Speaking in Moscow, Mr Putin questioned the moral support "some" states were extending to Georgia's leaders, saying they were trying to "portray victims of aggression as aggressors".
"I am deeply concerned by reports that Russian troops have moved beyond the zone of conflict, attacked the Georgian town of Gori, and are threatening the Georgian capital, Tbilisi," he said. The late Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, he said, had been hanged for "destroying several Shia villages".
Georgia's President Saakashvili agreed to the EU deal, but it was rejected by Russia, which said any negotiations could take place only after Georgian troops had pulled out of the disputed regions. But Georgia's current leaders, he alleged, had "razed 10 Ossetian villages at once", killing civilians indiscriminately.
Russian raid
Russia's announcement of its raid on Senaki was the first confirmation that it had advanced beyond the borders of Abkhazia.
Our visits to these hospitals confirm that local medical facilities are dealing with a large number of wounded and dead Dominik StillhartRed Cross Lessons from South OssetiaGeorgian exodus as fighting rages
The Russian air force reportedly destroyed two Georgian helicopters at the town's air base and Georgia later confirmed that a local military base had been destroyed.
In the town of Zugdidi, closer to Abkhazia, Russian troops were seen taking control of police buildings.
Moscow has stressed it does not seek to occupy any Georgian territory.
In South Ossetia, Russian troops reported shooting down a Georgian Su-25 jet after it opened fire on positions near Tskhinvali on Monday.
Georgia reported dozens of Russian planes entering its airspace during the day and among targets hit were a radar base outside Tbilisi.
It says it has downed 18 Russian planes since Friday but Moscow has only confirmed the loss of four.
Initial Georgian reports that Russian forces had taken over Gori, a town close to South Ossetia which Georgia evacuated on Sunday, were later discounted by Georgia itself.
Russia's control over many key bridges and roads across Georgia has left Tbilisi isolated from much of the country, causing visible panic, the BBC's Natalia Antelava reports from the capital.
Residents have been queuing at petrol stations and in supermarkets.
'Many dead'
The Red Cross has said it is "still too early" to say how many people have been killed or injured by the fighting.
ABKHAZIA Broke away from Georgia in 1992-1993 warDe-facto independence not recognised internationally2,000 Russian troops there sent as peacekeepersGeorgia seized strategic Kodori Gorge in Abkhazia in 2006Abkhazia rejected Georgian offer of autonomy within federal state Q&A: Violence in South OssetiaIn pictures: Georgia in crisisProfile: AbkhaziaVoices on the conflictABKHAZIA Broke away from Georgia in 1992-1993 warDe-facto independence not recognised internationally2,000 Russian troops there sent as peacekeepersGeorgia seized strategic Kodori Gorge in Abkhazia in 2006Abkhazia rejected Georgian offer of autonomy within federal state Q&A: Violence in South OssetiaIn pictures: Georgia in crisisProfile: AbkhaziaVoices on the conflict
And leaders from both countries carried on a war of words, with Russia accusing Georgia of genocide, and President Saakashvili hitting back with claims of ethnic cleansing. But Dominik Stillhart, the organisation's deputy director of operations, did say that visits to several hospitals in Georgia and on Russian territory had confirmed that "we are dealing with a large number of wounded and dead".
Mr Saakashvili accused Russia of trying to overthrow his government and claimed Russia was now in control of the majority of Georgian lands.
Russian officials denied they were seeking a regime change, and reiterated that they were responding to Georgian attacks and protecting Russian citizens - who make up the majority of the population of South Ossetia.
BBC diplomatic correspondent Bridget Kendall says the further Russia penetrates into Georgian territory, the harder it is for Moscow to claim it occupies the high ground.
But, our correspondent adds, the worrying question is - does the Russian leadership care about its reputation abroad any more?
Meanwhile, the Red Cross said it has visited several hospitals in Georgia and on Russian territory and warned that the humanitarian situation remained "very serious".
"It's still too early to say how many people have been killed or injured by the fighting," said Dominik Stillhart, the organisation's deputy director of operations.
"But our visits to these hospitals confirm that local medical facilities are dealing with a large number of wounded and dead."
In other developments:In other developments:
• Georgia's foreign minister is due to meet Nato officials on Tuesday. Russia has also requested an emergency meeting with Nato, saying the organisation should hear Moscow's side before making any decisions• Georgia's foreign minister is due to meet Nato officials on Tuesday. Russia has also requested an emergency meeting with Nato, saying the organisation should hear Moscow's side before making any decisions
• The US and several European nations have begun to evacuate hundreds of their citizens from Georgia• The US and several European nations have begun to evacuate hundreds of their citizens from Georgia
• Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland issue a joint statement saying that as "once-captive nations of Eastern Europe" they share a "deep concern" about Russia's actions towards Georgia• Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland issue a joint statement saying that as "once-captive nations of Eastern Europe" they share a "deep concern" about Russia's actions towards Georgia
• The G7 group of developed countries issues a strongly-worded statement calling on Russia to accept the EU-brokered ceasefire agreement• The G7 group of developed countries issues a strongly-worded statement calling on Russia to accept the EU-brokered ceasefire agreement
• French President Nicolas Sarkozy is to hold talks in Moscow and Georgia on Tuesday
Back to storyBack to story