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| Russia to 'force S Ossetia peace' | Russia to 'force S Ossetia peace' |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| Russia says it is sending extra troops to the Georgian breakaway region of South Ossetia after another night of fierce fighting with Georgian forces. | Russia says it is sending extra troops to the Georgian breakaway region of South Ossetia after another night of fierce fighting with Georgian forces. |
| President Dmitry Medvedev said his country had begun an operation "to force the Georgian side to peace". | President Dmitry Medvedev said his country had begun an operation "to force the Georgian side to peace". |
| Russian media say fighting continued around the South Ossetian capital Tskhinvali during the night, although not at the same intensity as on Friday. | Russian media say fighting continued around the South Ossetian capital Tskhinvali during the night, although not at the same intensity as on Friday. |
| Russian jets have also bombed military targets in the Georgian town of Gori. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| In pictures: Unrest in GeorgiaBitterness turns to conflictNo quick fix to conflict | |
| The BBC's James Rogers in Moscow says diplomatic initiatives have so far proved fruitless. | 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said about 1,500 people had so far been killed, including 15 of his country's soldiers. | |
| 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. |
| 'Protecting the population' | 'Protecting the population' |
| 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. | 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 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. | "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." |
| At the same time, a spokesman for Russian ground forces said reinforcements were being sent to South Ossetia to support peacekeepers already deployed there. | 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. | 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. |
| 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. |
| Hospitals 'overflowing' | |
| On Friday, the Russian government said it 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 in on 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 ceasefire8 August 2008 Heavy fighting erupts overnight, Georgian forces close in on Tskhinvali |
| It also voiced anger over the reported fatalities of Russian servicemen in the breakaway province, vowing not to allow their deaths to go unpunished. | It also voiced anger over the reported fatalities of Russian servicemen in the breakaway province, vowing not to allow their deaths to go unpunished. |
| Tskhinvali, where inhabitants are said to be sheltering in basements without electricity or phone lines, is reported to be devastated. | Tskhinvali, 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:
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