Georgian-South Ossetian conflict

[Federate]

Re: Georgian-South Ossetian conflict

Alright folks, this just in!

South Ossetian defense forces have shot down a Georgian aircraft.

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Fighting resumed in South Ossetia

Fighting has been raging for more than 24 hours in Georgia's breakaway republic of South Ossetia. There have been reports Georgia resumes intensive fire on Tskhinvali's residential quarters. Meanwhile, several Georgian towns and cities are said to have been hit.

South Ossetian forces are claiming to have shot down a Georgian fighter plane. A jet was downed by the republics air defences, near the capital Tskhinvali. The fate of the aircraft's pilot is not yet known.

Clashes continue in the capital's region, where a significant part of the city is said to have been destroyed.

South Ossetian authorities say Tbilisi's actions amount to genocide against the residents of the republic. Tskhinvali is said to be laying in ruins, and five villages have been razed to the ground.

Russia and the international community has callled on Georgia to pull its troops out of the region. Russian president Dmitry Medvedev says Moscow will take appropriate political and military measures to stop the violence in South Ossetia:

"The situation reached the point that Georgian peacekeepers have been shooting at Russian peacekeepers. Now women, children and old people are dying in South Ossetia - most of them are citizens of the Russian Federation. According to the constitution, I, as the President of the Russian Federation, must protect lives and the dignity of Russian citizens wherever they are. Those responsible for the deaths of our citizens will be punished".

Residents of the South Ossetian Capital of Tshinvali are said to be experiencing shortages of medicine and water, while most of the communication networks of the city have been destroyed. Russian peacekeepers are assisting locals who remain in the area.

The Russian Emergency Ministry has sent a mobile hospital to North Ossetia where thousands of refugees have fled from South Ossetia. The Russian President has ordered the government to take urgent measures to provide humanitarian aid to those leaving the conflict zone. However, moving the wounded and other civilians is said to be difficult at the moment.

Another of Georgia's breakaway republic's, Abkhazia, says Georgia is building-up its military across the Abkhazian border. Earlier, the republic's president Sergey Bagapsh expressed his readiness to help South Ossetia.

From http://www.russiatoday.com/news/news/28686

[robertik1]

Re: Georgian-South Ossetian conflict

The foreign ministry website of Georgia was hacked earlier and replaced with a collage of Adolf Hitler and Saakashvili

The website is currently down altogether http://mfa.gov.ge/

lol

[Federate]

Re: Georgian-South Ossetian conflict

The foreign ministry website of Georgia was hacked earlier and replaced with a collage of Adolf Hitler and Saakashvili

The website is currently down altogether http://mfa.gov.ge/

[skhara]

Re: Georgian-South Ossetian conflict

I've been monitoring the situation all day. Its all out war there. Russia is completely in the war now, the warplanes have been flying sorties all day, and an initial contingent of troops with heavy weapons have entered Tskhinvalli and opened fire on Georgian positions with tanks and artillery. Soldiers from Russia's peace-keeping contingent have suffered fatalities and are said to be involved in fierce clashes with Georgian troops. Russia, Georgia, and S Ossetia are officially at war.

[Federate]

Re: Georgian-South Ossetian conflict

South Ossetians retake capital
Fri, 08 Aug 2008 21:35:40 GMT

South Ossetian separatists say they are in complete control of the capital Tskhinvali more than 24 hours into a major Georgian military offensive.

The statement was made by South Ossetian spokeswoman, Irina Gagloyeva on Friday, the Interfax news agency reported.

"The entire city of Tskhinvali is currently controlled by units of South Ossetia's defense forces... The Georgian side is trying to regain control of southern suburbs of Tskhinvali", Gagloyeva said.

On Friday, Georgian authorities and South Ossetian rebels gave conflicting claims of full control of the capital amid the heavy Georgian bombardment which has so far killed at least 10 Russian peacekeepers.

Russian PM, Vladimir Putin

The Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who is in Beijing for the start of the Olympic Games blamed Georgia. "They have in effect begun hostilities using tanks and artillery. It is sad, but this will provoke retaliatory measures."

"We cannot allow the deaths of our countrymen to go unpunished. The guilty parties will receive the punishment they deserve," Russia President Dmitry Medvedev said earlier as Russian tanks and troops moved into South Ossetia to drive back the Georgian offensive.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has also ordered humanitarian aid be given to South Ossetians affected by the conflict.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov pointed the finger of blame at the West for giving Georgia military aid.

"Now we see Georgia has found a use for these weapons and for the Special Forces that were trained with the help of international Instructors..." he said.

From http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id...onid=351020602

[Azad]

Re: Georgian-South Ossetian conflict

Excellent!!!!

http://korrespondent.net/world/544225

Auto Translation.

"In Sukhumi not isklyuchayut the possibilities of opening the second
front against Georgia in the case of the beginning of war in South
Osetia. To this conclusion came the authorities of Abkhaziya in the
course of the session Of sovbeza of unacknowledged republic, at which
were discussed the measures for the help of South Osetia. Between the
unacknowledged republics is concluded the agreement, which not only is
assumed mutual military help, but allows it turned for it to the third
side, for example to Russia, it records The nezavisimaya newspaper.

According to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Abkhaziya Sergey
shamby, the content of the specific measures for the help of South
Osetia is "military secret", however, "within the framework
sushchestvuyushchikh between Abkhaziya and South Osetia the
understandings about the mutual aid we budem did everything that in
our forces so that it would help South Osetia", stated minister.

In response to a question, is possible whether discovery by Abkhaziya
the second front in the case of the beginning of war in Osetia, Shamba
answered: "this is possible".

In the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of South Osetia they stated that
the special agreement about the military help was not signed between
two republics. In the treaty of friendship and the collaboration
between Abkhaziya and South Osetia of 19 September, 2005, of side only
vyrazhayut the readiness rendered aid in the case of the natural
calamities and other extraordinary situations.

However, regulations of association "for democracy and rights of
peoples", where entering To pridnestrov'e, Abkhaziya and South Osetia,
are contained section about collective security and military-political
collaboration.

Let us recall, many republics of the North Caucasus expressed
readiness it helped South Osetia in the case of war with Georgia. As
stated the President of unacknowledged republic the edward Of kokoyty,
in Tskhinvali already arrived about 300 volunteers from North Osetia.

As a result of firings on the night of 2 August in South Osetia were
six people. Georgia asserts that the fire was opened in response to
the firing of the block signal posts MVD of Georgia. The authorities
of unacknowledged republic zayavlyayut, that first they began it shot
Georgian servicemen. The firings were prolonged on the night on
Sunday, and postradavshikh it does not communicate about the victims.

On 3 August in MID of Russia they stated that the threat of the
large-scale military actions between Georgia and South Osetia was
become all of of more real.

In connection with the aggravation of conflict the evacuation of women
and children from South Osetia began. Already today MID RF called
Tbilisi it decreased tension in the zone of Georgian- South-Ossetian
conflict."

[RSNATION]

Re: Georgian-South Ossetian conflict

Excellent!!!!

http://korrespondent.net/world/544225

On August 5, Abkhazia's separatist foreign minister, Sergey Shamba, announced that Abkhazia's army may open a second front against Georgia if it launched a full-scale attack against Ossetia.[97]

[RSNATION]

Re: Georgian-South Ossetian conflict

http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=12937276&PageNum=0

Saakashvili makes last mistake in his political career – Rogozin

08.08.2008, 22.16




BRUSSELS, August 8 (Itar-Tass) -- Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili made the last mistake in his political career when he opened fire at Russian citizens and peacekeepers, Russian Permanent Representative to NATO Dmitry Rogozin said on Friday. He had ended his vacation ahead of time and came to Brussels.

“In fact, the Georgian president breached the sovereignty of Russia and committed a war crime that could not be forgiven. He had crossed the line which normal politicians were not allowed to cross,” Rogozin said.

The date of attack on South Ossetia “was not accidental,” Rogozin said. “Obviously, Saakashvili hoped that the world would be focused on the opening of the Olympic Games and the Georgian aggression would draw less attention,” he said. He also said that consultations on the situation in South Ossetia would be held with NATO representatives in order to convey objective information.

Russia has three goals in South Ossetia: “full ceasefire, minimization of victims and protection of Russian citizens,” Rogozin said.

“We will convey this information to NATO. Our actions will be coordinated with the president and the prime minister,” he noted. Rogozin said that an urgent meting of the Russia-NATO Council was unlikely. Saakashvili “is trying to involve in the conflict as many sides as possible,” he said. “He has involved Russia with opening fire at Russian citizens and peacekeepers. Now he is trying to involve other states and international organizations,” he said. Excessive diplomatic reaction will help him achieve this goal, Rogozin remarked.

The alliance “has taken a detached and neutral position. It is receiving and analyzing information. Our NATO partners have had enough time to take a close look at Saakashvili and to understand his game,” Rogozin said.

[North Pole]

Re: Georgian-South Ossetian conflict

..........BREAKING NEWS...........

UN Security Council holds emergency meeting on South Ossetia

YouTube - UN Security Council holds emergency meeting on South Ossetia


The president of Georgia and his American supporters must be arrested.



Heavy fire on Georgian -- South Ossetian border

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uqfh8CEf0cg

[crusader1492]

Re: Georgian-South Ossetian conflict

Here is another reason why the US may not get involved:

Oil falls as dollar rises, ignores Georgia conflict

http://www.reuters.com/article/press...14048520080808