Fri, August 08, 2008
MOSCOW, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed that Russian tanks and troops have entered the region of South Ossetia following days of conflicts between Georgia and the breakaway region, Russian news agencies reported Friday.
"A Russian convoy as part of the North Caucasus Military District has entered the northern outskirts of the South Ossetian capital," the RIA Novositi news agency quoted the ministry as saying.
The ministry said necessary assistance will be rendered to the Russian peacekeepers, the citizens of the Russian Federation in North Ossetia and the self-proclaimed republic.
Eyewitnesses earlier said over 100 tanks, armored personnel carriers, and self-propelled guns had moved across the Russian border.
MOSCOW, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili said in A televised address on Friday that he had declared all-out mobilization of reservists, the Itar-Tass news agency reported.
"The mobilization of reserve troops has been declared and is ongoing," he said. Full story
MOSCOW, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Georgian armed forces traded gunfire with militants of the breakaway region of South Ossetia near the regional capital Tskhinvali overnight Thursday into Friday, killing at least 15 people, news reports said.
Georgian forces shelled Tskhinvali and 15 people were killed in the conflict, the Interfax news agency reported. Full story
MOSCOW, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili said on Thursday he was offering its breakaway region South Ossetia a ceasefire following days of conflicts.
"I beg you (South Ossetians) to cease fire immediately. We have no wish to wage war against you. Don't try the patience of our country. Let's stop this escalation and start talks -- direct, multilateral, any kind of talks," Saakashvili was quoted by the RIA Novosti news agency as saying. Full story
UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday expressed deep concern about rising violence in South Ossetia, a breakaway region of Georgia.
"The secretary-general expresses his serious concern about the mounting violence in South Ossetia (Georgia)," said a statement issued by Ban's press office. Full story
MOSCOW, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- Russia considers the latest hostilities between Georgia and its breakaway region of South Ossetia extremely dangerous, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin said Thursday.
"I wouldn't like to rush fences and pass judgment on what's going on there but naturally the events cause grave concern on our part," Karasin was quoted by the Itar-Tass news agency as saying.
