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| Russian jets attack Georgian town | Russian jets attack Georgian town |
| (29 minutes later) | |
| Russian jets have carried out strikes on military targets in the central Georgian town of Gori, close to the breakaway region of South Ossetia. | Russian jets have carried out strikes on military targets in the central Georgian town of Gori, close to the breakaway region of South Ossetia. |
| Georgian officials say 60 people were killed when bombs hit two blocks of flats in the town. | Georgian officials say 60 people were killed when bombs hit two blocks of flats in the town. |
| The Georgian parliament has meanwhile approved a presidential decree declaring a state of war for 15 days. | The Georgian parliament has meanwhile approved a presidential decree declaring a state of war for 15 days. |
| Earlier, Russia said it had "liberated" South Ossetia's capital Tskhinvali, but Georgia said it remained in control. | Earlier, Russia said it had "liberated" South Ossetia's capital Tskhinvali, but Georgia said it remained in control. |
| Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said his country was seeking "to force the Georgian side to peace". | Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said his country was seeking "to force the Georgian side to peace". |
| Russian commanders announced earlier that they were sending more troops into South Ossetia and confirmed two Russian jets had been shot down over Georgia, without saying where. | Russian commanders announced earlier that they were sending more troops into South Ossetia and confirmed two Russian jets had been shot down over Georgia, without saying where. |
| In another development, separatists in Abkhazia, Georgia's other breakaway region, said they had launched air and artillery strikes on Georgian forces in the Kodori Gorge. | |
| Eyewitness: Panic in GoriBitterness turns to conflictNo quick fix to conflict | Eyewitness: Panic in GoriBitterness turns to conflictNo quick fix to conflict |
| The crisis began spiralling when Georgian forces launched a surprise attack on Thursday night to regain control of South Ossetia, which has had de facto independence since the end of a civil war in 1992. | The crisis began spiralling when Georgian forces launched a surprise attack on Thursday night to regain control of South Ossetia, which has had de facto independence since the end of a civil war in 1992. |
| The move followed days of exchanges of heavy fire with the Russian-backed separatists. | The move followed days of exchanges of heavy fire with the Russian-backed separatists. |
| In response to the Georgian crackdown, Moscow sent armoured units across the border into South Ossetia. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said about 1,500 people had been killed so far, including 15 of his country's soldiers. | In response to the Georgian crackdown, Moscow sent armoured units across the border into South Ossetia. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said about 1,500 people had been killed so far, including 15 of his country's soldiers. |
| Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili denounced the claims of a high civilian death toll as an "egregious lie". | Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili denounced the claims of a high civilian death toll as an "egregious lie". |
| See a map of the region | See a map of the region |
| Mr Saakashvili also said he had decided to declare a "state of war" because Georgia was "under a state of total military aggression by the Russian navy, air force, large-scale ground operations". | Mr Saakashvili also said he had decided to declare a "state of war" because Georgia was "under a state of total military aggression by the Russian navy, air force, large-scale ground operations". |
| Georgia is withdrawing its entire contingent of 2,000 troops from Iraq to help deal with the crisis. | Georgia is withdrawing its entire contingent of 2,000 troops from Iraq to help deal with the crisis. |
| US President George W Bush said the Russian attacks outside South Ossetia marked a "dangerous escalation in the crisis" and said Georgia's territorial integrity had to be respected. | US President George W Bush said the Russian attacks outside South Ossetia marked a "dangerous escalation in the crisis" and said Georgia's territorial integrity had to be respected. |
| "The attacks are occurring in regions of Georgia far from the zone of conflict in South Ossetia," he said while attending the Olympics. | "The attacks are occurring in regions of Georgia far from the zone of conflict in South Ossetia," he said while attending the Olympics. |
| "The violence is endangering regional peace. Civilian lives have been lost and others are endangered." | "The violence is endangering regional peace. Civilian lives have been lost and others are endangered." |
| 'Military invasion' | 'Military invasion' |
| Fighting raged around Tskhinvali overnight and into Saturday morning, although not at the same intensity as on Friday, Russian media reported. | Fighting raged around Tskhinvali overnight and into Saturday morning, although not at the same intensity as on Friday, Russian media reported. |
| Russia said Tskhinvali had been "liberated" from the Georgian military | Russia said Tskhinvali had been "liberated" from the Georgian military |
| Later, the Russian Army's Ground Forces commander, Gen Vladimir Boldyrev, told Russian media that his troops had retaken the city from Georgian forces. | Later, the Russian Army's Ground Forces commander, Gen Vladimir Boldyrev, told Russian media that his troops had retaken the city from Georgian forces. |
| "Tactical groups have fully liberated Tskhinvali from the Georgian military and have started pushing Georgian units beyond the zone of peacekeepers' responsibility," he said, after paratroopers were airlifted into the city. | "Tactical groups have fully liberated Tskhinvali from the Georgian military and have started pushing Georgian units beyond the zone of peacekeepers' responsibility," he said, after paratroopers were airlifted into the city. |
| But the secretary of the Georgian National Security Council, Khakha Lomaia, insisted that the city remained "under the complete control of our troops". | But the secretary of the Georgian National Security Council, Khakha Lomaia, insisted that the city remained "under the complete control of our troops". |
| Tskhinvali, where inhabitants are said to be sheltering in basements without electricity or phone lines, is reported to be devastated. The International Red Cross (ICRC) said it had received reports that hospitals in the city were "overflowing" with casualties. | Tskhinvali, where inhabitants are said to be sheltering in basements without electricity or phone lines, is reported to be devastated. The International Red Cross (ICRC) said it had received reports that hospitals in the city were "overflowing" with casualties. |
| Georgia said Russia had also launched air strikes on targets inside its territory, in what it described as "a full-scale military invasion". | Georgia said Russia had also launched air strikes on targets inside its territory, in what it described as "a full-scale military invasion". |
| Later, Russian aircraft bombed mostly military targets in Gori, where Georgian troops have been massing at three bases to support their forces engaged in South Ossetia. | Later, Russian aircraft bombed mostly military targets in Gori, where Georgian troops have been massing at three bases to support their forces engaged in South Ossetia. |
| 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 pictures: Georgian town attackedSend 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 Russian President Dmitry Medvedev Q&A: Violence in South OssetiaIn pictures: Georgian town attackedSend us your comments |
| The BBC's Richard Galpin in Gori heard loud explosions and saw large plumes of smoke rising into the sky; soldiers and civilians were seen running through the streets. | The BBC's Richard Galpin in Gori heard loud explosions and saw large plumes of smoke rising into the sky; soldiers and civilians were seen running through the streets. |
| One missile hit a military base, from which most of the soldiers appeared to have managed to escape beforehand, he says. | One missile hit a military base, from which most of the soldiers appeared to have managed to escape beforehand, he says. |
| Our correspondent says injured civilians were being pulled from the buildings, which were on fire. | Our correspondent says injured civilians were being pulled from the buildings, which were on fire. |
| The Georgian foreign ministry in Tbilisi said the Black Sea port of Poti, the site of a major oil shipment facility, had also been "devastated" by a Russian air raid. | The Georgian foreign ministry in Tbilisi said the Black Sea port of Poti, the site of a major oil shipment facility, had also been "devastated" by a Russian air raid. |
| Georgian TV reported that the Georgian-controlled section of the Kodori Gorge in Abkhazia was under fire, blaming the bombardment on Russian forces. | Georgian TV reported that the Georgian-controlled section of the Kodori Gorge in Abkhazia was under fire, blaming the bombardment on Russian forces. |
| The foreign minister in Abkhazia's self-declared government, Sergei Shamba, said Abkhaz forces had launched an attack aimed at driving Georgian forces out of the gorge. | The foreign minister in Abkhazia's self-declared government, Sergei Shamba, said Abkhaz forces had launched an attack aimed at driving Georgian forces out of the gorge. |
| It was not clear whether planes used in the attack on the gorge belonged to Russia or to the Abkhaz separatists. | It was not clear whether planes used in the attack on the gorge belonged to Russia or to the Abkhaz separatists. |
| Russia has a peacekeeping force in Abkhazia under an agreement made following civil wars in the 1990s, when the region declared independence and formed links with Moscow. | Russia has a peacekeeping force in Abkhazia under an agreement made following civil wars in the 1990s, when the region declared independence and formed links with Moscow. |
| Territorial claims | Territorial claims |
| President Medvedev said Russia's military aim in South Ossetia was to force the Georgians to stop fighting. | President Medvedev said Russia's military aim in South Ossetia was to force the Georgians to stop fighting. |
| Russian minister defends action | Russian minister defends action |
| "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. | "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." | "They also bear the responsibility for protecting the population." |
| Speaking to the BBC, the Russian foreign minister insisted his country did not want all-out war with Georgia, but was prepared to do whatever was necessary to restore the situation in South Ossetia and to defend its civilian population, most of whom have been given Russian citizenship. | Speaking to the BBC, the Russian foreign minister insisted his country did not want all-out war with Georgia, but was prepared to do whatever was necessary to restore the situation in South Ossetia and to defend its civilian population, most of whom have been given Russian citizenship. |
| "Mr Saakashvili keeps saying that we want to chop off a part of Georgian territory," Mr Lavrov said. | "Mr Saakashvili keeps saying that we want to chop off a part of Georgian territory," Mr Lavrov said. |
| 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 ceasefire; however Georgia launches a surprise attack8 August 2008Russia sends in columns of armour and troops and fighting erupts with Georgian forces in and around Tskhinvali9 August 2008 Russian jets bomb central Georgian town of Gori, Russia says its troops have "liberated" Tskhinvali | 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 ceasefire; however Georgia launches a surprise attack8 August 2008Russia sends in columns of armour and troops and fighting erupts with Georgian forces in and around Tskhinvali9 August 2008 Russian jets bomb central Georgian town of Gori, Russia says its troops have "liberated" Tskhinvali |
| "He's also saying that this is not just about Georgia, this is about the future of Europe because he says Russia is also making territorial claims to other claims, including the Baltic States, which is rubbish." | "He's also saying that this is not just about Georgia, this is about the future of Europe because he says Russia is also making territorial claims to other claims, including the Baltic States, which is rubbish." |
| Mr Lavrov said Georgia had violated a peace deal under which Georgia had agreed not to use force in the South Ossetian dispute. | Mr Lavrov said Georgia had violated a peace deal under which Georgia had agreed not to use force in the South Ossetian dispute. |
| "We cannot allow the peace agreement just to be violated this way," he added. "Whatever it takes to bring the situation to status quo ante will be done." | "We cannot allow the peace agreement just to be violated this way," he added. "Whatever it takes to bring the situation to status quo ante will be done." |
| The BBC's James Rodgers in Moscow says diplomatic initiatives to end the fighting have so far proved fruitless. | The BBC's James Rodgers in Moscow says diplomatic initiatives to end the fighting 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. | On Friday evening, the UN Security Council failed to agree on the wording of a statement calling for a ceasefire. |
| The UK, 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. | The UK, 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. |
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