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Peace bid as Ossetia crisis rages | Peace bid as Ossetia crisis rages |
(10 minutes later) | |
A delegation including envoys from the US, EU and Nato is heading to Georgia as its conflict with Russia over the breakaway South Ossetia region deepens. | A delegation including envoys from the US, EU and Nato is heading to Georgia as its conflict with Russia over the breakaway South Ossetia region deepens. |
The envoys hope to broker a truce after three days of fighting which are said to have killed or injured hundreds. | The envoys hope to broker a truce after three days of fighting which are said to have killed or injured hundreds. |
UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband said the fighting risked incurring "civilian losses on a large scale". | UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband said the fighting risked incurring "civilian losses on a large scale". |
Hundreds have fled the fighting in both South Ossetia and Georgia, where some towns have been bombed by Russian jets. | Hundreds have fled the fighting in both South Ossetia and Georgia, where some towns have been bombed by Russian jets. |
A Russian air strike on Gori, a Georgian town near South Ossetia, left 60 people dead, many of them civilians, Georgia says. | A Russian air strike on Gori, a Georgian town near South Ossetia, left 60 people dead, many of them civilians, Georgia says. |
Russian officials say hundreds of civilians have been killed in South Ossetia. Georgia denies the figure, which cannot be independently verified. | Russian officials say hundreds of civilians have been killed in South Ossetia. Georgia denies the figure, which cannot be independently verified. |
See a map of the region | See a map of the region |
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has said his country is seeking "to force the Georgian side to peace". | Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has said his country is seeking "to force the Georgian side to peace". |
Meanwhile, separatists in Abkhazia - Georgia's other breakaway region - say they have launched air and artillery strikes on Georgian forces in the Kodori Gorge. | Meanwhile, separatists in Abkhazia - Georgia's other breakaway region - say they have launched air and artillery strikes on Georgian forces in the Kodori Gorge. |
'Broadening' conflict | 'Broadening' conflict |
The joint delegation of the US, EU, Nato and the Organisation of Security and Co-operation in Europe is due to visit Georgia on Saturday evening. | The joint delegation of the US, EU, Nato and the Organisation of Security and Co-operation in Europe is due to visit Georgia on Saturday evening. |
Eyewitness: Panic in Gori href="/1/hi/world/europe/7551576.stm">S Ossetia crisis day-by-day class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7550780.stm">No quick fix to conflict "Reports of fighting and bombing outside South Ossetia are especially disturbing as they represent a broadening and deepening of the conflict," Mr Miliband said, confirming that the UK would be sending Sir Brian Fall, his ministry's Representative for the South Caucasus. | |
"The UK will be discussing with all our partners how to stop the spread of violence, secure a ceasefire and get talks under way," he added. | "The UK will be discussing with all our partners how to stop the spread of violence, secure a ceasefire and get talks under way," he added. |
Russian PM Vladimir Putin has stopped in Russia's North Ossetia region on his return from the Olympics. | Russian PM Vladimir Putin has stopped in Russia's North Ossetia region on his return from the Olympics. |
He arrived in the North Ossetian capital, Vladikavkaz, to discuss the influx of refugees from the conflict in South Ossetia. | He arrived in the North Ossetian capital, Vladikavkaz, to discuss the influx of refugees from the conflict in South Ossetia. |
Russia's ambassador to Nato, Dmitry Rogozin, said there could be no "consultations" with Georgia until Georgian forces returned to their positions and re-established "the status quo". | Russia's ambassador to Nato, Dmitry Rogozin, said there could be no "consultations" with Georgia until Georgian forces returned to their positions and re-established "the status quo". |
Accounts differ over who controls South Ossetia's capital, with Moscow saying it has "liberated" Tskhinvali. | Accounts differ over who controls South Ossetia's capital, with Moscow saying it has "liberated" Tskhinvali. |
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. | In response to the Georgian crackdown, Moscow sent armoured units across the border into South Ossetia. |
'Total... aggression' | 'Total... aggression' |
The Georgian parliament has approved a presidential decree declaring a state of war for 15 days. | The Georgian parliament has approved a presidential decree declaring a state of war for 15 days. |
ARMED FORCES COMPARED GEORGIA Total personnel: 26,900Main battle tanks (T-72): 82Armoured personnel carriers: 139Combat aircraft (Su-25): SevenHeavy artillery pieces (including Grad rocket launchers): 95 RUSSIA Total personnel: 641,000Main battle tanks (various): 6,717Armoured personnel carriers: 6,388Combat aircraft (various): 1,206Heavy artillery pieces (various): 7,550Source: Jane's Sentinel Country Risk Assessments | |
Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili has denounced Russian reports of a high civilian death toll from his forces as an "egregious lie". | Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili has denounced Russian reports of a high civilian death toll from his forces as an "egregious lie". |
Mr Saakashvili said he had decided to declare that Georgia was in a state of war because it was "under a state of total [Russian] military aggression". | Mr Saakashvili said he had decided to declare that Georgia was in a state of war because it was "under a state of total [Russian] military aggression". |
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." | "The violence is endangering regional peace." |
Tskhinvali 'destroyed' | Tskhinvali 'destroyed' |
Fighting continued around Tskhinvali overnight and into Saturday morning, although not at the same intensity as on Friday, Russian media reported. | Fighting continued around Tskhinvali overnight and into Saturday morning, although not at the same intensity as on Friday, Russian media reported. |
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 |
Later, the Russian Army's Ground Forces commander, Gen Vladimir Boldyrev, said his troops had "fully liberated" the city and were pushing Georgian forces back. | Later, the Russian Army's Ground Forces commander, Gen Vladimir Boldyrev, said his troops had "fully liberated" the city and were pushing Georgian forces back. |
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". |
Russian commanders, who said reinforcements were being sent to the region, confirmed that two Russian jets had been shot down over Georgia. | Russian commanders, who said reinforcements were being sent to the region, confirmed that two Russian jets had been shot down over Georgia. |
Speaking to Russian news agency Interfax, Russia's ambassador to Georgia, Vyacheslav Kovalenko, said on Saturday that 2,000 civilians and 13 Russian peacekeepers had been killed in Tskhinvali. | Speaking to Russian news agency Interfax, Russia's ambassador to Georgia, Vyacheslav Kovalenko, said on Saturday that 2,000 civilians and 13 Russian peacekeepers had been killed in Tskhinvali. |
"The city of Tskhinvali no longer exists," he said. "It is gone. The Georgian military has destroyed it." | "The city of Tskhinvali no longer exists," he said. "It is gone. The Georgian military has destroyed it." |
The International Red Cross (ICRC) said it had received reports that hospitals in the city were "overflowing" with casualties. | The International Red Cross (ICRC) said it had received reports that hospitals in the city were "overflowing" with casualties. |
In Gori, Russian aircraft bombed mostly military targets, where Georgian troops had been massing to support their forces engaged in South Ossetia. | In Gori, Russian aircraft bombed mostly military targets, where Georgian troops had been massing to support their forces engaged in South Ossetia. |
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. |
Injured civilians were being pulled from the buildings, which were on fire. | Injured civilians were being pulled from the buildings, which were on fire. |
The Georgian foreign ministry said the Black Sea port of Poti, the site of a major oil shipment facility, had been "devastated" by a Russian air raid. | The Georgian foreign ministry said the Black Sea port of Poti, the site of a major oil shipment facility, had been "devastated" by a Russian air raid. |
Meanwhile Georgian TV reported that the Georgian-controlled section of the Kodori Gorge in Abkhazia was under fire, blaming the bombardment on Russian forces. | Meanwhile 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. |
Russian minister defends action | Russian minister defends action |
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. |
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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Are you in the areas affected by the violence? If you have witnessed anything you want to share with the BBC, please do so using the form below: | Are you in the areas affected by the violence? If you have witnessed anything you want to share with the BBC, please do so using the form below: |
You can send pictures and video to: | You can send pictures and video to: |
yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here.Click here to see terms and conditions | yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here.Click here to see terms and conditions |
At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |
Name | Name |