MOSCOW, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Russian army on Saturday took full control of the capital of Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia from Georgian forces, Russian news agencies quoted the head of the Russian ground forces as saying.

Russian military vehicles are seen on their way to South Ossetia close to North Ossetia-South Ossetia border, Aug. 9, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    "Tactical groups have completely liberated Tskhinvali (capital of South Ossetia) from the Georgian military," General Vladimir Boldyrev was quoted as saying by the agencies.

    The Russian army will further push Georgian units beyond the zone of peacekeepers' responsibility, according to Boldyrev.

Smoke is seen over buildings after Russian bombardment in Gori, 80 km (50 miles) from Tbilisi, August 9, 2008. Russia said it had driven Georgian forces from the capital of South Ossetia on Saturday as part of an operation to force Georgia to accept peace in its breakaway region. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    Tskhinvali suffered major destruction in the Georgian offensive that began early Friday. Russia said 1,500 people have been killed in the violence, and 30,000 South Ossetians have fled across the border into Russia.

    South Ossetian leader Yury Morozov confirmed that the city is now under the control of Russian troops, but warned that the death toll may rise.

    He told Russian TV channel Vesti-24 that thousands of people have been injured, and that many residents remain trapped under the rubble of bombed-out buildings, making it difficult to assess the number of fatalities.

Soldiers run near a blazing apartment after a bombardment in the town of Gori, 80 km (50 miles) from Tbilisi, Aug. 9, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    Earlier in the day, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said that the country's troops have started a military operation in South Ossetia to force Georgian troops to cease fire, and paratroopers from Russia's Ivanovo, Moscow and Pskov airborne divisions have been sent to Tskhinvali.

    The long-standing conflict between Georgia and its rebel region South Ossetia worsened on Aug. 1-2, when the South Ossetian authorities accused Georgian forces of shelling Tskhinvali.

    South Ossetia, along with another breakaway republic Abkhazia, broke away from Georgia in the 1990s following the collapse of the Soviet Union. But their self-proclaimed independence has not been internationally recognized.

Georgia's President Mikhail Saakashvili calls for cease fire in South Ossetia

    MOSCOW, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Georgia's President Mikhail Saakashvili called for an immediate cease fire in the breakaway province of South Ossetia, reports reaching here from Tbilisi saidon Saturday.

Georgia's President Mikheil Saakashvili makes a statement in Tbilisi Aug. 8, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    "We propose an immediate cease fire and the beginning of the withdrawal of troops from the contact line," Saakashvili said at a news briefing. Full story

Prospect remains dim to solve South Ossetia conflict

    BEIJING, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- The escalating clashes in South Ossetia, a breakaway region of Georgia, have threatened to ignite a wider war in the delicate Caucasus region despite international calls for a ceasefire.

    As Russia vowed to expand military operation into the region to "protect its citizens," and Georgia, backed by the United States, refused to back down on its territorial integrity, the prospect of ending the conflict anytime soon remains dim. Full story

Georgia's parliament approves martial law

    MOSCOW, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Georgia's parliament has approved a presidential decree introducing martial law for 15 days in the country, reports reaching here from Tbilisi said Saturday.

    President Mikhail Saakashvili signed the decree introducing martial law earlier on Saturday. Full story

Georgian president to impose martial law

    MOSCOW, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili said Saturday that martial law will be imposed in the country.

    "I decided to declare martial law in the country in connection with Russian aggression against Georgia," he was quoted by Russia's Itar-Tass news agency as saying at a meeting of the National Security Council. Full story

Russian troops take control of South Ossetian capital

    MOSCOW, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Russian army on Saturday took full control of the capital of Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia from Georgian forces, Russian news agencies quoted the head of the Russian ground forces as saying.

    "Tactical groups have completely liberated Tskhinvali (capital of South Ossetia) from the Georgian military," General Vladimir Boldyrev was quoted as saying by the agencies. Full story

Medvedev: Russian troops to force Georgians to cease fire

    MOSCOW, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Saturday that the country's troops have started a military operation in Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia to force Georgian troops to cease fire.

Georgian troops fire rockets at a South Ossetian territory near a settlement in Ergneti, 95 km (59 miles) from Tbilisi, Aug. 8, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    "Our peacekeepers along with reinforcement units are currently conducting an operation to force the Georgian side to accept peace. They are also responsible for protecting the population," Medvedev told Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov and Chief of General Staff Nikolai Makarov in the Kremlin. Full story

[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]