Smoke floats over the site of an explosion at the Russian peacekeepers base in Tskhinvali. (Xinhua/AFP Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

Car bomb attack kills seven in South Ossetia

    MOSCOW, Oct. 3 (Xinhua) -- A car bomb blast killed at least seven Russian peacekeepers and injured seven others near the peacekeeping force's headquarters in the South Ossetian capital Tskhinvali Friday afternoon, Russian media reported.

    "Seven servicemen have been killed and seven others wounded. All the wounded peacekeepers have been airlifted to Defense Ministry hospitals in Russia on board helicopters," Interfax quoted Marat Kulakhmetov, commander of the Russian peacekeeping forces in South Ossetia. Full story

South Ossetian leader denies plans to become part of Russia

    MOSCOW, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- South Ossetian leader Eduard Kokoity on Thursday denied reports quoting him as saying the Georgian breakaway region intended to become part of Russia, the Interfax news agency reported.

    "I have probably been misunderstood. We are not going to relinquish our independence, which we won at the cost of colossal sacrifices, and South Ossetia is not going to become part of Russia," Kokoity was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying in an interview. Full story

FM: Russian troops to stay in Abkhazia, South Ossetia 

    MOSCOW, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- Russian troops will stay in Abkhazia and South Ossetia for a long time, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday.

    "Russian troops will be there for a long time. It is absolutely necessary in the foreseeable future in order to prevent relapses of aggressive actions," Lavrov told a press conference in Moscow. Full story