MOSCOW, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- The withdrawal of Georgian troops from the conflict zone of Georgia and its breakaway region of South Ossetia is the only way to settle the "tragic crisis," Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Saturday.

    Human victims "amount to thousands" due to Georgia's actions in South Ossetia, Medvedev said in a telephone conversation with his U.S. counterpart George W. Bush.

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>>>

    "Under these circumstances, Russia is guided by one task -- to immediately stop violence and defense civilians and restore peace as soon as possible," the Itar-Tass news agency quoted Medvedev assaying.

    "The withdrawal of armed units from the conflict area, compliance with the earlier signed agreements and signing a legally binding agreement on the non-use of force is the unique way to overcome the tragic crisis initiated by the Georgian leadership," he said.

    On a separate occasion, Bush made an appeal for an end to the conflict, while attending the Beijing Olympics.

    He warned of a dangerous escalation and the spread of attacks beyond the zone of conflict, saying the United States and its European allies will seek international mediation.

Smoke is seen over buildings after bombardment in Gori, 80 km (50 miles) from Tbilisi, August 9, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    On Saturday, Georgia's President Mikhail Saakashvili called for an immediate ceasefire in the breakaway province of South Ossetia, proposing "an immediate ceasefire and the beginning of the withdrawal of troops from the contact line."

    The Russian army said on Saturday that it took full control of the provincial capital Tskhinvali from Georgian forces after President Medvedev said that the troops had started a military operation to force Georgian troops to cease fire.

A car passes tanks in Gori, 80 km (50 miles) from Tbilisi, August 9, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    After more than 10 of Russian peacekeepers in South Ossetia were killed amid a Georgian offensive, units of Russia's 58th army left for the region to help its peacekeepers.

    Paratroopers from Russia's Ivanovo, Moscow and Pskov airborne divisions have been sent to Tskhinvali, Medvedev said.

    While Saakashvili urged an immediate truce, Georgia's parliament on Saturday approved a presidential decree imposing a 15-day martial law in the Caucasian country.

    Saakashvili told a meeting of the National Security Council that he decided "to declare martial law in the country in connection with Russian aggression against Georgia."

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

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

    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.

UN Security Council fails to agree on South Ossetia cease-fire

    UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council failed again on Saturday in its attempt to agree on a truce call for the parties involved in the bitter fighting in Georgia's breakaway of South Ossetia.

    Council members held a third round of emergency meeting Saturday afternoon since late Thursday, during which they heard a briefing on the most recent developments in the situation of Georgia. Full story

Russia rules out talks before retreat of Georgian forces

    BRUSSELS, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- There will be no negotiations between Russia and Georgia before Georgian forces return to their positions prior to the conflict in South Ossetia, said Russian ambassador to NATO, Dmitry Rogozin, on Saturday.

    "They must retreat to the place where they were before they started this aggression; they must retreat to where they were three days ago," Rogozin told reporters in his residence in a Brussels suburb. Full story

U.S. calls for immediate cease-fire in South Ossetia

    WASHINGTON, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- A senior U.S. official said Saturday that the United States calls for an immediate cease-fire in South Ossetia and urged Russia to withdraw its troops from the South Ossetia, Georgia.

    "The response has been far disproportionate from whatever threat Russia was citing ... We are calling for an immediate cease-fire and a stand down of all troops," the official told reporters in a conference call. Full story

Putin says Russia's actions in South Ossetia well-founded

    MOSCOW, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Russia's actions in South Ossetia are absolutely justified from the legal point of view, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Saturday.

    "From the legal point of view our actions are absolutely justified and legitimate," the Interfax news agency quoted Putin as saying at a meeting in Vladikavkaz, regional capital of south Russia's North Ossetia. He flew to Vladikavkaz from the Beijing Olympics. Full story