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S Ossetia votes on independence S Ossetia votes on independence
(about 23 hours later)
The tiny former Soviet region of South Ossetia is holding an independence referendum which it hopes will help it break away from Georgia. Votes are being counted in a referendum in the tiny former Soviet region of South Ossetia, which officials hope will help it break away from Georgia.
South Ossetia has been struggling for independence from Georgia since the war in the early 1990s but has failed to win international recognition. Officials in the region said turnout was more than 90%, and correspondents say the result is likely to be an overwhelming yes to independence.
South Ossetia has sought secession since the early 1990s but has failed to win international recognition.
Georgia terms the vote illegitimate and has vowed to win South Ossetia back.Georgia terms the vote illegitimate and has vowed to win South Ossetia back.
The vote is further straining tensions between Georgia and Russia which has strong links to South Ossetia. The BBC's Matthew Collin in Tskhinvali says the vote has further strained relations between Georgia and Russia, which has links to the region.
All the posters on the streets of Tskhinvali are campaigning for a "yes" vote, and the result seems a foregone conclusion. The result is likely to be an overwhelming yes to independence from Georgia, judging by the enthusiasm of many voters here, he says.
But the result is unlikely to be recognised by any country in the world. But it is unlikely to be recognised by any country in the world.
The South Ossetian President, Eduard Kokoity, has insisted the referendum is not a futile gesture. 'Not futile'
"It's not a symbolic referendum, it's an answer to those who won't recognise the will of the people of South Ossetia," he said. South Ossetian President Eduard Kokoity, who seems likely to be re-elected, hailed the vote.
"It's an answer to those who apply double standards to us. South Ossetia has more of a legal basis to be recognised than Kosovo or Montenegro." "We have won together today," he told a crowd of supporters in the region's capital Tskhinvali after the polls closed.
'Assassination plot'
This has been a strange and occasionally violent campaign.
Ethnic Georgians who live in South Ossetia have organised a parallel vote in what's seen as an attempt to undermine the referendum's claim to be representative.
SOUTH OSSETIA Population: About 70,000 Capital: Tskhinvali Major languages: Ossetian, Georgian, Russian Major religion: Orthodox Christianity Currency: Russian rouble, Georgian lari Regions and territories: South OssetiaSOUTH OSSETIA Population: About 70,000 Capital: Tskhinvali Major languages: Ossetian, Georgian, Russian Major religion: Orthodox Christianity Currency: Russian rouble, Georgian lari Regions and territories: South Ossetia
"When we're together and united, no-one can defeat us."
Earlier he appealed to the international community to accept the will of his people, insisting the referendum was not a futile gesture.
"It's not a symbolic referendum, it's an answer to those who won't recognise the will of the people of South Ossetia," he said.
South Ossetians held a party after the vote to celebrate what they see as their next step towards freedom.
But our correspondent says it seems that referendum day in South Ossetia has only made a peaceful solution to the conflict here harder to find.
This has been a strange and occasionally violent campaign, he says.
People in some of the ethnic Georgian enclaves, which lie within South Ossetia, voted in what they described as alternative elections, which seemed designed to undermine the credibility of the referendum on independence.
South Ossetian forces have killed four men they said were planning terrorist attacks at the polls.South Ossetian forces have killed four men they said were planning terrorist attacks at the polls.
And the former South Ossetian minister has been shown on television allegedly confessing to a plot to kill the breakaway region's president.
In these unusual circumstances the result of the referendum is unlikely to lead to a resolution of the conflict.
Georgian accusationGeorgian accusation
The South Ossetian authorities see the vote as a step towards their ultimate goal - becoming part of Russia.The South Ossetian authorities see the vote as a step towards their ultimate goal - becoming part of Russia.
But Moscow has given them no indication it will ever accept them.But Moscow has given them no indication it will ever accept them.
Georgia has accused Russia of backing South Ossetia's ambitions to undermine its pro-western government.Georgia has accused Russia of backing South Ossetia's ambitions to undermine its pro-western government.
Georgia wants the Russian peacekeeping troops in South Ossetia to be replaced by an international force.Georgia wants the Russian peacekeeping troops in South Ossetia to be replaced by an international force.
But the South Ossetians see them as protection against what they believe are Georgian plans to invade.But the South Ossetians see them as protection against what they believe are Georgian plans to invade.
South Ossetia began its attempts to gain independence at the fall of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, when hundreds died in fighting between Georgian and Ossetian forces.South Ossetia began its attempts to gain independence at the fall of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, when hundreds died in fighting between Georgian and Ossetian forces.
Many in South Ossetia see Georgia's actions then as brutal and unforgivable.Many in South Ossetia see Georgia's actions then as brutal and unforgivable.
Since then the region has effectively run its own affairs with economic and political support from Russia.Since then the region has effectively run its own affairs with economic and political support from Russia.