WASHINGTON, Aug. 19 (Xinhuanet) -- The Untied States said on Thursday that it was concerned over the continuation of violence in Georgia's rebel province South Ossetia and was working closely with Georgia and Russia to bring the situation under control.

    "We are greatly concerned by this continuation of violence," State Department deputy spokesman Adam Ereli said at a news briefing.

    "We are working very actively with the government of Georgia, with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and with the Russians to bring the situation under control and promotea political settlement and dialogue," Ereli said.

    Ereli said the US objective was to reduce the level of violenceand develop "a political solution that enhances Georgia's territorial integrity."

    It was reported Thursday that six Georgian soldiers were killedand seven others wounded in a fierce overnight fighting in South Ossetia.

    Despite a cease-fire agreement reached on Aug. 13, the fightinghas continued. The Georgian government and the separatists criticized each other for breaking the agreement.

    South Ossetia has sought to integrate into the neighboring Russia despite Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili's pledge to reunite the country by taking the region and another breakaway republic, Abkhazia, back under the control of the central government. Enditem