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South Ossetia clashes intensify Russia to 'force S Ossetia peace'
(about 2 hours later)
Fierce fighting between Russian and Georgian troops is continuing in the Georgian separatist region of South Ossetia, reports say. Russia says it is sending extra troops to the Georgian breakaway region of South Ossetia after another night of fierce fighting with Georgian forces.
Georgia says it is in control of the regional capital, Tskhinvali, battling Russian forces on the outskirts. President Dmitry Medvedev said his country had begun an operation "to force the Georgian side to peace".
Georgia's government has accused Moscow of bombing three Georgian military bases and the Black Sea city of Poti. Russian media say fighting continued around the South Ossetian capital Tskhinvali during the night, although not at the same intensity as on Friday.
Meanwhile, the UN Security Council has failed to agree on the wording of a statement calling for a ceasefire. Russian jets have also bombed military targets in the Georgian town of Gori.
Georgian soldiers told the BBC the targets were three nearby military bases, where thousands of troops are stationed. Soldiers and civilians have been seen running through the streets, fleeing for safety.
Earlier, the Georgian foreign ministry also said the Black Sea port of Poti, which is the site of a major oil shipment facility, had been "devastated" by a Russian aerial bombardment.
The BBC's James Rogers in Moscow says diplomatic initiatives have so far proved fruitless.
On Friday evening, the UN Security Council failed to agree on the wording of a statement calling for a ceasefire.
Russia holds a permanent place on the Council, and has the power of veto over any official statements that it regards as unfair or inaccurate.Russia holds a permanent place on the Council, and has the power of veto over any official statements that it regards as unfair or inaccurate.
In pictures: Unrest in GeorgiaBitterness turns to conflictNo quick fix to conflict Permanent members Britain, the US and France, are pinpointing what they say is Russia's aggression as the key factor in the slide towards war, while Moscow insists Georgia is to blame. In pictures: Unrest in GeorgiaBitterness turns to conflictNo quick fix to conflict
Permanent members Britain, the US and France, are pinpointing what they say is Russia's aggression as the key factor in the slide towards war, while Moscow insists Georgia is to blame.
After days of exchanging heavy fire with the Russian-backed separatists, Georgian forces moved on Thursday night to regain control of the region, which has had de facto independence since a war against Georgia that ended in 1992.After days of exchanging heavy fire with the Russian-backed separatists, Georgian forces moved on Thursday night to regain control of the region, which has had de facto independence since a war against Georgia that ended in 1992.
In response, Moscow sent armoured units across the border. Russia says 15 of its soldiers are dead, and separatists estimate that 1,400 civilians have died.In response, Moscow sent armoured units across the border. Russia says 15 of its soldiers are dead, and separatists estimate that 1,400 civilians have died.
Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili said 30 Georgians had been killed in two days of fighting.Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili said 30 Georgians had been killed in two days of fighting.
'At war' 'Protecting the population'
Georgian forces launched the latest in a series of artillery attacks on Tskhinvali early on Saturday, according to a South Ossetian government spokeswoman. At a meeting on Saturday morning in the Kremlin with Defence Minister Anatoliy Serdyukov and the head of the Russian Armed Forces, President Medvedev said Russia's military aim was to force the Georgians to stop fighting.
Our peacekeepers and the units attached to them are currently carrying out an operation to force the Georgian side to [agree to] peace Russian President Dmitry Medvedev Q&A: Violence in South OssetiaIn quotes: Strife in GeorgiaSend us your comments
"Our peacekeepers and the units attached to them are currently carrying out an operation to force the Georgian side to [agree to] peace," he said.
"They also bear the responsibility for protecting the population."
At the same time, a spokesman for Russian ground forces said reinforcements were being sent to South Ossetia to support peacekeepers already deployed there.
Earlier, the South Ossetian government said Georgian forces launched the latest in a series of artillery attacks on Tskhinvali early on Saturday.
Russian forces said they had fought back, and fierce clashes were reported by Russian news agencies overnight.Russian forces said they had fought back, and fierce clashes were reported by Russian news agencies overnight.
Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili says he is willing to agree an immediate ceasefire
Georgia meanwhile said that Russia had launched air strikes on targets inside its territory, in what it described as "a full-scale military invasion".Georgia meanwhile said that Russia had launched air strikes on targets inside its territory, in what it described as "a full-scale military invasion".
An interior ministry spokesman said one of the attacks took place near the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, which supplies Caspian oil to the West.An interior ministry spokesman said one of the attacks took place near the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, which supplies Caspian oil to the West.
The authorities also told the BBC they were expecting a Russian attack on the capital, Tbilisi, and that some government offices in the city had been evacuated as a precaution.The authorities also told the BBC they were expecting a Russian attack on the capital, Tbilisi, and that some government offices in the city had been evacuated as a precaution.
Georgian President Saakashvili said Russia was at war with his country.Georgian President Saakashvili said Russia was at war with his country.
Late on Friday, the Georgian national security council said Mr Saakashvili was poised to declare a state of emergency.
'Ethnic cleansing''Ethnic cleansing'
On Friday, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said he had to act to defend South Ossetia's civilians, most of whom have been given Russian citizenship. On Friday, the Russian government said it had to act to defend South Ossetia's civilians, most of whom have been given Russian citizenship.
SOUTH OSSETIA TIMELINE 1991-92 S Ossetia fights war to break away from newly independent Georgia; Russia enforces truce2004 Mikhail Saakashvili elected Georgian president, promising to recover lost territories2006 S Ossetians vote for independence in unofficial referendumApril 2008 Russia steps up ties with Abkhazia and South OssetiaJuly 2008 Russia admits flying jets over S Ossetia; Russia and Georgia accuse each other of military build-up7 August 2008 After escalating Georgian-Ossetian clashes, sides agree to ceasefire8 August 2008 Heavy fighting erupts overnight, Georgian forces close on Tskhinvali class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=5212&edition=2&ttl=20080808115437">Send us your comments class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7549736.stm">Q&A: Violence in South Ossetia class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7549990.stm">In quotes: Strife in Georgia SOUTH OSSETIA TIMELINE 1991-92 S Ossetia fights war to break away from newly independent Georgia; Russia enforces truce2004 Mikhail Saakashvili elected Georgian president, promising to recover lost territories2006 S Ossetians vote for independence in unofficial referendumApril 2008 Russia steps up ties with Abkhazia and South OssetiaJuly 2008 Russia admits flying jets over S Ossetia; Russia and Georgia accuse each other of military build-up7 August 2008 After escalating Georgian-Ossetian clashes, sides agree to ceasefire8 August 2008 Heavy fighting erupts overnight, Georgian forces close in on Tskhinvali
He also voiced anger over the reported fatalities of Russian servicemen in the breakaway province. It also voiced anger over the reported fatalities of Russian servicemen in the breakaway province, vowing not to allow their deaths to go unpunished.
"We will not allow their deaths to go unpunished," he said. "Those responsible will receive a deserved punishment." Tskhinvali, where inhabitants are said to be sheltering in basements without electricity or phone lines, is reported to be devastated.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow had received reports that villages in South Ossetia were being ethnically cleansed.
The regional capital, where inhabitants are said to be sheltering in basements without electricity or phone lines, is reported to be devastated.
International Red Cross spokeswoman Anna Nelson said it had received reports that hospitals in Tskhinvali were "overflowing" with casualties.International Red Cross spokeswoman Anna Nelson said it had received reports that hospitals in Tskhinvali were "overflowing" with casualties.
In other developments: In other developments:
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  • US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called on Russia to pull its troops out of Georgia and respect its territorial integrity
  • Georgia's president said his country was withdrawing half its contingent of 2,000 troops from Iraq to help deal with the crisis
  • Russia said it would cut all air links with Georgia from midnight on Friday
  • The European security organisation, the OSCE, warned that the fighting in South Ossetia could escalate into a full-scale war
  • The US and the EU were reported to be sending a joint delegation to the region to seek a ceasefire and Nato said it was seriously concerned.
  • US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called on Russia to pull its troops out of Georgia and respect its territorial integrity
  • Georgia's president said his country was withdrawing half its contingent of 2,000 troops from Iraq to help deal with the crisis
  • Russia said it would cut all air links with Georgia from midnight on Friday
  • The European security organisation, the OSCE, warned that the fighting in South Ossetia could escalate into a full-scale war
  • The US and the EU were reported to be sending a joint delegation to the region to seek a ceasefire and Nato said it was seriously concerned.