Russia Today reports:
The Russian embassy in Tbilisi has reportedly received a note from the Georgian president saying his country is stopping military action in South Ossetia. Russia’s Interfax news agency reports that Mikhail Saakashvili ordered his army to stop firing on Sunday. However, the Russian Foreign Ministry says Georgia has yet to end hostilities.
Russia’s Defence Ministry has confirmed that Georgian troops have withdrawn from South Ossetia after failing to retake the breakaway republic through military force. Spokesman Anatoly Nogovitsyn said peacekeeping soldiers are once again in control of most of the South Ossetian capital, Tskhinvali.
The announcement goes some way towards clarifying conflicting messages coming out of Tbilisi earlier on Sunday.
Initially Reuters news agency quoted Georgia’s Internal Affairs Ministry spokesman, Shota Utiashvili, as saying: ‘Georgian troops have fully left South Ossetia.’
But the Secretary of Georgia’s National Security Council, Aleksandr Lomaya, claimed Georgian troops had merely relocated to new positions within South Ossetia.
“Following the airstrikes, Tskhuinvali is virtually obliterated. In these conditions our forces have relocated and assumed new positions,” Lomaya said.
Russia’s Defence ministry spokespokesman has denied Georgian reports that Russian air planes attacked civilian targets.
More than 150 people remain trapped under the rubble of the city hospital. It was destroyed on the first day of the hostilities. That’s according to local officials.
According to reports from Tbilisi, 45 Georgian soldiers and 40 civilians were killed in two days of violence in South Ossetia. Those figures contrast wildly with those released by South Ossetia and Russia, who say an estimated 2,000 people have been killed.
Georgia’s media is also reporting strikes by Russian war planes outside the conflict zone.
Media reports say an apartment block in the Georgian town of Gori was hit by a Russian bomb.
Russia’s Defence Ministry says its planes have not bombed any civilian targets.
A Russian journalist based in Georgia reported on his Internet blog that an ammunition warehouse in Gori was targeted and destroyed – which caused civilian casualties.
Also Russian planes are reported to have bombed Georgian military bases and airfields across the country as well as the seaport of Poti.
For those who does not know, the small historical inquiry:
Ossetia, Abkhazia, Adjariya, Svanetiya etc. in XIX century were exposed to persecutions from the authorities of Tbilisi. Only presence at first imperial armies on kavkaze, and then and Soviet has helped to keep indigenous population.
Concerning last events small chronology:
From 02.08 till – from the Georgian party occurs artillery bombardments of capital of Ossetia and all its territory
From 04.08 – from Ossetia evacuation of local residents begins
07.08 19:00 – Saakashvili declares, that stops bombardment of territory of Ossetia and is ready to sit down for a negotiating table.
07.08 22:00 – Georgia begins the massed artillery bombardment of capital of Ossetia and its territories with application of the weapon of mass defeat
In the morning 08.08 Georgian armies go over to the offensive and moving ahead from different directions to capital of Ossetia completely wipe about all buildings and structures, destroying thus unarmed local residents. Fire is conducted and on the peace-making contingent located in Ossetia, there are killed.
08.08 09:00 – the authorities of South Ossetia ask Russia about protection
08.08 from 09:00 till – the Russian authorities call the USA, all countries of NATO, IOK to influence Georgia for the termination of offensive operation. Reacts only IOK.
08.08 from 17:00 – because of world community inactivity Russia enters the armies on territory of Ossetia and begins operation on expression of armies of Georgia with territory of Ossetia.
Simultaneously foreign news agencies inform on an attack of Russia to Georgia.
And WHERE YOU WERE EARLIER WHEN GEORGIA HAS SHOT MORE THAN 2000 INHABITANTS OF LOCAL INDIGENOUS POPULATION (living there centuries)?!?!?!
Those shots with ostensibly bombardment of Georgia which you see, actually night bombardment by the Georgian party of capital of Ossetia. REALLY TO YOU SO HAVE WASHED OUT BRAINS, THAT YOU ARE MEANINGLY READY TO GET RID 2000 OSSETIN, VICTIMS FROM HANDS OF THE GEORGIAN ARMIES FROM 07.08. LESS THAN FOR 12 HOURS by GEORGIA IT IS KILLED 2000 PEACE PERSON, AND YOU AT ALL DO NOT NOTICE THEM!!!
THERE IS NO SOVIET UNION MORE!!! FORGET ABOUT IT! NOT WE HAVE UNTIED THIS SLAUGHTER-HOUSE!!!!!