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Georgia marks anniversary of war Georgia marks anniversary of war
(about 1 hour later)
Ceremonies have begun in Georgia to mark one year since the war between Russia and Georgia over the South Ossetia region. Ceremonies are under way in Georgia to mark one year since the war between Russia and Georgia over the South Ossetia region.
Midnight bonfires were lit in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, and other towns. A march and candlelight ceremony in South Ossetia are also planned.Midnight bonfires were lit in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, and other towns. A march and candlelight ceremony in South Ossetia are also planned.
A minute's silence will be held to remember the hundreds who died.A minute's silence will be held to remember the hundreds who died.
Some 30,000 people remain displaced one year after the five-day conflict, a leading human rights agency reports. One year on some 30,000 people remain displaced because of the five-day conflict, Amnesty International says.
Amnesty International said most are ethnic Georgians, who continue to lack basic services and suffer hardship. A report by the human rights group said most of the displaced were ethnic Georgians, many of whom continue to lack basic services and suffer hardship.
In Georgia, President Mikheil Saakashvili is due to address the nation later. One of the first events on the anniversary was the symbolic raising of the Georgian flag over the city of Gori, a ceremony attended by President Mikheil Saakashvili.
Bonfires were lit in Georgia at midnight to mark the anniversary of the war
The town was hit by Russian airstrikes and then occupied by Russian forces last year.
The Georgian national anthem was played as the flag was raised
In extracts of an interview to be broadcast later on Russian TV, President Dmitry Medvedev called the decision he made on 7 August 2008 "the hardest thing".
"But in the end we got it right," the AFP news agency reported him as saying.
In Georgia, Mr Saakashvili is due to address the nation later on Friday.
'Omnipresent sports''Omnipresent sports'
In its report, 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 war A total of nearly 200,000 were displaced by the fighting, it said. name="up"> class="bodl" href="#map">Click here for a map of the region However, of the 38,500 people who fled South Ossetia for Russia, all but 4,000 were thought to have been returned.
A total of nearly 200,000 were displaced by the fighting, it said.
Click here for a map of the region 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.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.
ANALYSIS Richard Galpin BBC News, Tskhinvali
Tensions had been rising ever since Mikheil 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.
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.
By the summer of 2008 Mr Sakhashvili was clearly impatient to restore his country's territorial integrity 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.
Soon after, both Russia and Georgia started preparing for war.
"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."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 game
On Thursday, Georgia's government repeated its assertion 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 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 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, 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.
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.
By the summer of 2008 Mr Sakhashvili was clearly impatient 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.
Soon after, both Russia and Georgia started preparing for war.
The conflict erupted on 7 August 2008, as Georgia tried to retake control of South Ossetia, following a series of clashes.The conflict erupted on 7 August 2008, as Georgia tried to retake control of South Ossetia, following a series of clashes.
Russian forces quickly repelled the assault, and pushed further into Georgia.Russian forces quickly repelled the assault, and pushed further into Georgia.
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.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.
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