This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/8188904.stm

The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Georgians still displaced by war Georgians remain displaced by war
(about 1 hour later)
Some 30,000 people remain displaced one year after the war between Russia and Georgia over the South Ossetia region, a leading human rights agency reports.Some 30,000 people remain displaced one year after the war between Russia and Georgia over the South Ossetia region, a leading human rights agency reports.
Most are ethnic Georgians, who even now lack basic services and suffer hardship, Amnesty International says. Amnesty International says most are ethnic Georgians, who continue to lack basic services and suffer hardship.
Friday marks the first anniversary of the start of the five-day conflict in which Russia defeated the Georgians who sent their troops into South Ossetia. The reports comes one year since the start of the five-day conflict, in which Georgia failed to reassert its control over South Ossetia.
Vigils will be held across the area as people remember the hundreds who died.Vigils will be held across the area as people remember the hundreds who died.
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili is due to address the nation following a day of ceremonies, including a nationwide day of silence. In Georgia, President Mikheil Saakashvili is due to address the nation following a day of ceremonies, including a nationwide day of silence.
Click here for a map of the region Click here for a map of the region
Earlier, bonfires were lit across the country at midnight local time. Earlier, bonfires were lit across the country at midnight.
'Omnipresent sports''Omnipresent sports'
In a new report published a year after the beginning of the conflict, Amnesty International said it had found that 30,000 civilians from both sides were still unable to return to their homes. In its report, Amnesty International said it had found that 30,000 civilians from both sides were still unable to return to their homes.
Bonfires were lit in Georgia at midnight to mark the anniversary of the warBonfires were lit in Georgia at midnight to mark the anniversary of the war
A total of nearly 200,000 were displaced by the fighting. Of the 38,500 people who fled South Ossetia for Russia, all but 4,000 were thought to have been returned, the human rights group said. A total of nearly 200,000 were displaced by the fighting, it said.
A further 138,000 ethnic Georgians were displaced by the fighting, but 18,500 who fled South Ossetia and the district of Akhalgori remain displaced. However, of the 38,500 people who fled South Ossetia for Russia, all but 4,000 were thought to have been returned.
A further 138,000 ethnic Georgians living in South Ossetia were displaced by the fighting, but 18,500 who fled South Ossetia and the district of Akhalgori remain displaced.
Most have been provided with compensation or temporary accommodation, as well as basic furniture and facilities.Most have been provided with compensation or temporary accommodation, as well as basic furniture and facilities.
However, their biggest problems remained the remoteness of some of the settlements, which deprived the inhabitants of easy access to hospitals, schools and places of work, Amnesty said. Many people are still dependent on aid.However, their biggest problems remained the remoteness of some of the settlements, which deprived the inhabitants of easy access to hospitals, schools and places of work, Amnesty said. Many people are still dependent on aid.
"An omnipresent sense of tension and insecurity prevent many people from returning to their homes and carrying on with their lives," Amnesty said in a statement. "An omnipresent sense of tension and insecurity prevent many people from returning to their homes and carrying on with their lives," the human rights group said in a statement.
"Many of the people who have returned are facing a new reality brought about by the conflict, a reality in which they struggle to rebuild their lives and livelihoods," it added."Many of the people who have returned are facing a new reality brought about by the conflict, a reality in which they struggle to rebuild their lives and livelihoods," it added.
Blame gameBlame game
On Thursday, Georgia's government repeated its claim that its assault on South Ossetia was a response to a secret Russian invasion. On Thursday, Georgia's government repeated its assertion that its assault on South Ossetia was a response to a secret Russian invasion.
Much of the South Ossetian capital is still in ruinsMuch of the South Ossetian capital is still in ruins
Russia denied it was first to move, and accused the Georgian government of "a pre-planned criminal act".Russia denied it was first to move, and accused the Georgian government of "a pre-planned criminal act".
The BBC's Richard Galpin in Tskhinvali says the causes of the war last August remain a hotly contested issue, with both Russia and Georgia continuing to blame each other. The causes of the war last August remain a hotly contested issue, with both Russia and Georgia continuing to blame each other.
But many diplomats believe Mr Saakashvili acted rashly, walking into a trap laid by the Russians. But many diplomats believe Mr Saakashvili acted rashly, walking into a trap laid by the Russians, says the BBC's Richard Galpin, in the South Ossetian capital, Tskhinvali.
Tensions had been rising ever since Mr Saakashvili came to power five years ago determined to move Georgia out of the Russian sphere of influence, in particular by applying to join Nato, our correspondent says. Tensions had been rising ever since Mr Saakashvili came to power five years ago determined to move Georgia out of the Russian sphere of influence, in particular by applying to join Nato.
One of the easiest ways for Moscow to put pressure on him was through South Ossetia and the other breakaway Georgian region of Abkhazia, which lies on Russia's southern border, he adds. Moscow began to pressure the Georgian president through its influence in South Ossetia and the other breakaway Georgian region of Abkhazia, which lies on Russia's southern border.
The Georgian president had pledged to restore his country's territorial integrity and he was clearly impatient to do this, our correspondent says, so Russia developed ever closer relations with the two regions. By the summer of 2008 Mr Sakhashvili was clearly impatient to to restore his country's territorial integrity, our correspondent says, so Russia developed ever-closer relations with the two regions.
The West's decision to recognise the independence of Kosovo early last year may have been a turning point for Moscow, which in response moved as close as possible to recognising South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states without explicitly saying so, he adds.The West's decision to recognise the independence of Kosovo early last year may have been a turning point for Moscow, which in response moved as close as possible to recognising South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states without explicitly saying so, he adds.
Soon after, both Russia and Georgia started preparing for war.Soon after, both Russia and Georgia started preparing for war.
Russia began building up its military positions in both breakaway regions, while in Tbilisi, Western diplomats kept trying to stop President Saakashvili from launching an attack, respected analysts say. The conflict erupted on 7 August 2008, as Georgia tried to retake control of South Ossetia, following a series of clashes.
In early August, skirmishing between Georgian and South Ossetian forces turned into an all-out assault on Tskhinvali by the Georgian military. In response, Russia invaded deep into Georgia. Russian forces quickly repelled the assault, and pushed further into Georgia.
But our correspondent says it is still unclear where exactly the Russian forces were on the night of the Georgian attack on South Ossetia. The conflict lasted for five days before a ceasefire was agreed. Russia pulled back, but built up its military presence in both South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
Click here to returnClick here to return