BRUSSELS, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) on Tuesday launched an international inquiry into the causes of the military conflict between Georgia and Russia in early August 2008.

    EU finance ministers approved a fact-finding mission led by former UN special representative to Georgia, Heidi Tagliavini. The mission, which runs until July 31, 2009, is tasked to establish the origins and conduct of the conflict and look into accusations lodged by Georgia and Russia against each other of crimes against humanity, said the ministers in a statement.

    The mission will present a report to the EU, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the United Nations as well as Georgia and Russia.

    Georgia and Russia have blamed each other for starting the conflict. Russia said it was reacting to Georgia's sudden attack on its breakaway region of South Ossetia and that its military campaign was to protect South Ossetians and to enforce peace in the region, where it has a UN peace-keeping mandate. Georgia claimed it was forced to fight back Russian aggression.