Hurriyet English with wires
OluÅŸturulma Tarihi: AÄŸustos 09, 2008 10:53
Georgia called for a ceasefire on Saturday after Russian bombers widened an offensive to force back Georgian troops seeking control over the breakaway region of South Ossetia. U.S. President George W. Bush said Russian attacks on Georgia outside South Ossetia marked a "dangerous escalation" of the crisis as Abkhazian forces launched operation against Georgia. Russian planes targeted Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline but missed, Georgian minister said. (UPDATED)
ÂLatest on Georgia-Russia conflict |
*At least 2,000 civilians killed in Tskhinvali fighting * Abkhaz separatists launches operation to force Georgia out *Putin arrives in Russian region of North Ossetia * Bush voices concern over a "dangerous escalation" in the crisis * Georgia called for immediate ceasefire *Georgia approves a "state of war" * Tbilisi may appeal for international military assistance * Russia bombs disputed area between Georgia and Abkhazia * Turkey says BTC pipeline would not be effected from conflict  |
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Georgia’s government said Russian forces were attacking civilians in a Georgian-controlled part of the Abkhazia rebel region.
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"The Russian Federation has launched a full-scale military operation against the civilian population in the Kodori gorge," a Georgian-controlled part of Abkhazia, AFP quoted the Georgian government as saying.
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Abkhazia is one of two Russian-backed separatist regions of Georgia along with South Ossetia.
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Separatists from Abkhazia have launched a military operation in a part of the disputed Kodori gorge, the separatists' foreign minister said earlier on Saturday.
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"Abkhaz armed forces launched an operation to drive Georgian forces out of the gorge," Sergei Shamba told Reuters by telephone from the regional capital Sukhumi. "Artillery has been used."Â
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BUSH CALLS LEADERS
Bush Saturday spoke to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Georgia President Mikheil Saakashvili to reiterate his position on the crisis in the breakaway region of South Ossetia, the White House said.
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"President Bush reiterated the United States position to both leaders," said White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe.
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A pullout of Georgian troops from the conflict zone is the only solution to the South Ossetian crisis, Medvedev told Bush in the telephone conversation."The Russian president has specifically stressed that the only way out from the tragic crisis provoked by the Georgian leadership is a withdrawal by Tbilisi of its armed formations from the conflict zone," Reuters quoted a Kremlin press release as saying.
Bush earlier on Saturday said attacks by Russia on neighbouring Georgia outside the war zone of South Ossetia marked a "dangerous escalation" of the crisis and urged Moscow to halt the bombing immediately.
"I'm deeply concerned about the situation in Georgia," Bush said at the Olympics. "The attacks are occurring in regions of Georgia far from the zone of conflict in South Ossetia. They mark a dangerous of escalation in the crisis."
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He said Georgia's territorial integrity must be respected and "we call for an end to the Russian bombings," urging both sides to halt hostilities and return to their positions before the fighting began earlier this week. Â
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CALL FOR CEASEFIRE AND STATE OF WAR
Saakashvili called for an immediate ceasefire earlier on Saturday and said Russia had launched a full-scale military invasion of his country.
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"My offer is for an immediate ceasefire, disengagement of forces and the demilitarisation of every area where there is friction between troops," Saakashvili said at a news briefing. "Russia has launched a full scale military invasion of Georgia."
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"Georgia will be willing to take the first steps provided there is no international vacuum and there is a serious international process," Saakashvili said.
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Georgia's parliament approved a state of war across the country on Saturday following days of fighting against separatists in its South Ossetia region and their Russian allies. "The state of war will be valid for 15 days," stated the decree by Saakashvili that parliament approved.
INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE
The head of Georgia's national security council on Saturday did not rule out appealing for outside military help as the conflict in South Ossetia escalates.
"I do not rule out a possibility of Georgia appealing to the international community for a direct military assistance," Alexander Lomaia told reporters by telephone in Brussels, where the European Union and NATO are headquartered.
"However, our troops are fighting Russian invaders in a brave and brave manner," he said, adding: "Obviously, the resources are not equal."
CLASHES CONTINUE
Russian and Georgian troops are now battling in South Ossetia. South Ossetia and Abkhazia broke away from Georgia in the early 1990s after bloody wars.
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The regions, backed by Russia, want their self-proclaimed independence to be internationally recognised and reject Georgian offers of wide autonomy.
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Russia said it had seized control of South Ossetia's rebel capital, Tskhinvali, but Georgia denied the claim on the second day of fighting that threatens oil and gas pipelines seen as crucial in the West.
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Russian officials said the death toll now stood at 2,000 and 30,000 refugees from South Ossetia had fled to Russia over the past 36 hours. Russia said two of its warplanes had been shot down and 12 of its soldiers had been killed.
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Georgia has so far shot down 10 Russian aircraft and destroyed up to 30 Russian tanks in the conflict over South Ossetia, Lomai also said Saturday. He added Georgia's armed forces had lost "as many as 40 military servicemen" with more than 100 wounded as of Saturday morning.
