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Violence flares in Georgian town | Violence flares in Georgian town |
(40 minutes later) | |
Violence has flared up in Georgia, where Russian tanks have been seen patrolling the town of Gori. | |
People leaving Gori say there is looting going on involving South Ossetian separatists. | People leaving Gori say there is looting going on involving South Ossetian separatists. |
A convoy of Russian vehicles has been seen on the road to Georgia's capital but Russia and a Georgian minister have denied it is heading to Tbilisi. | |
The BBC's Sarah Rainsford in the South Ossetian capital, Tskhinvali, says many buildings have been totally destroyed. | The BBC's Sarah Rainsford in the South Ossetian capital, Tskhinvali, says many buildings have been totally destroyed. |
A ceasefire is in place, but it seems to be very fragile, correspondents say. | A ceasefire is in place, but it seems to be very fragile, correspondents say. |
See map of the region | See map of the region |
Russian tanks seem to be dismantling and destroying Georgian army bases in the town of Gori, the BBC's Gavin Hewitt in Gori says. | |
We are determined to act on the ground Bernard KouchnerFrench foreign minister France wants EU role in Georgia | We are determined to act on the ground Bernard KouchnerFrench foreign minister France wants EU role in Georgia |
Georgia's President Mikhail Saakashvili told the US network CNN that Russian forces were moving towards the capital and planned to encircle the city. | Georgia's President Mikhail Saakashvili told the US network CNN that Russian forces were moving towards the capital and planned to encircle the city. |
However, Russia denied reports that its forces were heading towards Tbilisi. | |
Georgian Deputy Interior Minister Ekaterine Zguladze also said in televised remarks that a convoy of Russian tanks had left Gori but was not heading for the capital. | |
Foreign ministers from the European Union, speaking in Brussels following emergency talks, expressed broad support for proposals to send EU peacekeepers to the area to supervise the French-brokered ceasefire. | Foreign ministers from the European Union, speaking in Brussels following emergency talks, expressed broad support for proposals to send EU peacekeepers to the area to supervise the French-brokered ceasefire. |
"We are determined to act on the ground," said French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner. | "We are determined to act on the ground," said French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner. |
"It is difficult to say we are optimistic... but we are encouraged by what we saw this morning, but we have to go through the United Nations." | "It is difficult to say we are optimistic... but we are encouraged by what we saw this morning, but we have to go through the United Nations." |
EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said the EU was committed to providing humanitarian aid and assistance with reconstruction once the security situation allowed. | EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said the EU was committed to providing humanitarian aid and assistance with reconstruction once the security situation allowed. |
A key element of the peace deal calls for all forces to return to the areas where they were before fighting broke out last week. | A key element of the peace deal calls for all forces to return to the areas where they were before fighting broke out last week. |
Checkpoint | Checkpoint |
In Gori, there are reports of residents being stripped of their belongings at gunpoint at the entrances to the city. | In Gori, there are reports of residents being stripped of their belongings at gunpoint at the entrances to the city. |
Russian and Georgian armoured vehicles are on the Gori-Tbilisi road | |
A pall of smoke hangs over Gori's market, but it is not clear if any more fighting has been going on in the town. | A pall of smoke hangs over Gori's market, but it is not clear if any more fighting has been going on in the town. |
Terrified residents have watched their houses being torched, and the situation may well be worse in outlying villages, the BBC's Gavin Hewitt in Gori says. | |
There is also a Russian checkpoint with two Russian tanks outside Gori on the main road leading into the town from the Georgian capital Tbilisi, an eyewitness told the BBC. | There is also a Russian checkpoint with two Russian tanks outside Gori on the main road leading into the town from the Georgian capital Tbilisi, an eyewitness told the BBC. |
But the Russian foreign ministry says it has no Russian troops left in Gori, Reuters news agency reports. | But the Russian foreign ministry says it has no Russian troops left in Gori, Reuters news agency reports. |
The BBC's Richard Galpin, at a police checkpoint about 20km from the capital on the Tbilisi-Gori road, said he had seen a column of about 60 Georgian military vehicles, including troop carriers and at least two anti-aircraft guns, heading in the direction of Gori. | |
A source travelling with the column said it was going into a South Ossetian village, our correspondent says. The Georgians said they were "on a humanitarian mission". | |
On Tuesday, Russian forces said their military activity in the area was completed after Georgian security forces were driven out of the town during fighting. | On Tuesday, Russian forces said their military activity in the area was completed after Georgian security forces were driven out of the town during fighting. |
Wrecked city | Wrecked city |
In Tskhinvali, the main offices of the local administration are a blackened shell, says our correspondent in the South Ossetian capital. | In Tskhinvali, the main offices of the local administration are a blackened shell, says our correspondent in the South Ossetian capital. |
There are apartment buildings all around with smashed windows, with bullet and shrapnel damage and gaping holes where there used to be windows. Two Georgian tanks stand on a square near what was the main base of Russian peacekeepers. | There are apartment buildings all around with smashed windows, with bullet and shrapnel damage and gaping holes where there used to be windows. Two Georgian tanks stand on a square near what was the main base of Russian peacekeepers. |
Residents who are out trying to clear their wrecked homes say they have no water and no electricity. | Residents who are out trying to clear their wrecked homes say they have no water and no electricity. |
The streets are quiet now, but houses were on fire in villages along the route to the city, our correspondent adds. | The streets are quiet now, but houses were on fire in villages along the route to the city, our correspondent adds. |
Tskhinvali itself is under Russian control now and there are no reports of any serious fighting, but there is no confirmation as to when the Russian troops will withdraw, a Russian military spokesman said. | Tskhinvali itself is under Russian control now and there are no reports of any serious fighting, but there is no confirmation as to when the Russian troops will withdraw, a Russian military spokesman said. |
Some 100,000 people are estimated to have been displaced by the conflict, which has created huge tensions in international relations. | Some 100,000 people are estimated to have been displaced by the conflict, which has created huge tensions in international relations. |
Back to story | Back to story |
Are you in one of the affected areas of Georgia, South Ossetia and Abkhazia? Tell us what is happening where you are using the form below: | Are you in one of the affected areas of Georgia, South Ossetia and Abkhazia? Tell us what is happening where you are using the form below: |
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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. |