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| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Russians killed in Georgia blast | Russians killed in Georgia blast |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A blast in Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia killed seven Russian soldiers, a Russian commander says. | A blast in Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia killed seven Russian soldiers, a Russian commander says. |
| The soldiers died when a car full of explosives blew up near a Russian military base in the regional capital, Tskhinvali, local officials said. | |
| Georgia said Russia organised the explosion as a pretext to delay withdrawing troops from South Ossetia. | |
| But Russia blamed Georgia, saying it was an attempt to undermine a ceasefire agreement between the two sides. | |
| Tension remains high in the region following the conflict between Russia and Georgia over the summer. | Tension remains high in the region following the conflict between Russia and Georgia over the summer. |
| Seven other soldiers were injured in the blast, the Russian military commander in South Ossetia said. | |
| According to a statement from the South Ossetian breakaway government, Russian troops had confiscated the vehicle that blew up from an ethnic Georgian village because it was carrying weapons. | According to a statement from the South Ossetian breakaway government, Russian troops had confiscated the vehicle that blew up from an ethnic Georgian village because it was carrying weapons. |
| Russian television footage showed a black plume of smoke rising from behind metal gates at the base. Russia says it plans to keep thousands of troops in South Ossetia | Russian television footage showed a black plume of smoke rising from behind metal gates at the base. Russia says it plans to keep thousands of troops in South Ossetia |
| An unidentified Russian foreign ministry official said forces "striving to destabilise the situation" were behind the blast, Russian media reported. | An unidentified Russian foreign ministry official said forces "striving to destabilise the situation" were behind the blast, Russian media reported. |
| South Ossetian leader Eduard Kokoity went further, describing it as "a deliberate terrorist act prepared by the Georgian Security Ministry", Russia's Itar-Tass news agency said. | South Ossetian leader Eduard Kokoity went further, describing it as "a deliberate terrorist act prepared by the Georgian Security Ministry", Russia's Itar-Tass news agency said. |
| Georgian Interior Ministry spokesman Shota Utiashvili rejected the allegation. | Georgian Interior Ministry spokesman Shota Utiashvili rejected the allegation. |
| "I think this is a provocation with the aim of keeping Russian forces in Georgia," he told the AFP new agency. | "I think this is a provocation with the aim of keeping Russian forces in Georgia," he told the AFP new agency. |
| EU monitors | EU monitors |
| The BBC's James Rodgers, in Moscow, says it is the most serious incident in South Ossetia since Russia and Georgia fought over the territory two months ago. Q&A: Conflict in Georgia | The BBC's James Rodgers, in Moscow, says it is the most serious incident in South Ossetia since Russia and Georgia fought over the territory two months ago. Q&A: Conflict in Georgia |
| Fighting began there on 7 August when Georgia tried to retake South Ossetia by force after a series of lower-level clashes. | Fighting began there on 7 August when Georgia tried to retake South Ossetia by force after a series of lower-level clashes. |
| Russia launched a counter-attack and the Georgian troops were ejected from South Ossetia and another region, Abkhazia, several days later. | Russia launched a counter-attack and the Georgian troops were ejected from South Ossetia and another region, Abkhazia, several days later. |
| Earlier this week, European Union monitors entered a Russian-controlled buffer zone around South Ossetia, as part of a French-brokered peace deal between the two sides. | Earlier this week, European Union monitors entered a Russian-controlled buffer zone around South Ossetia, as part of a French-brokered peace deal between the two sides. |
| Russia says it will pull out from the buffer zone and another around Abkhazia by 10 October. | Russia says it will pull out from the buffer zone and another around Abkhazia by 10 October. |
| But it has recognised the two breakaway regions as independent and says it will keep nearly 8,000 troops in the two areas. | But it has recognised the two breakaway regions as independent and says it will keep nearly 8,000 troops in the two areas. |
| The EU wants its observers to have access to the breakaway regions, but Russia has repeatedly refused to guarantee that. | The EU wants its observers to have access to the breakaway regions, but Russia has repeatedly refused to guarantee that. |