Good news to hear, South Ossetia evacuates children. Lets hope at least children wont be hurt in this war.

The breakaway Georgian province of South Ossetia says it is evacuating children to neighbouring Russia, amid renewed violence.

The authorities said they had started to put children on buses to take them out of the conflict zone, but it is not clear how many children have left.

Georgia said the decision was worrying, as it could be a sign the separatists were preparing for more violence.

Six people died on Friday when South Ossetia's capital came under fire.

The Russian-backed separatists and the Georgian authorities blamed each other for starting the fighting.

Tensions have risen in South Ossetia and Georgia's other breakaway region, Abkhazia, after Russia announced it would establish official links with the separatists.

Georgia's government says Russia is supporting and inciting the separatists to create instability as part of its attempts to stop Georgia joining Nato, says the BBC's Matthew Collin in Tbilisi.

It also accuses Russia of acting to maintain the Kremlin's influence in this former Soviet region, our correspondent says.

'Full-scale war'

The separatists said three of their militiamen were killed by Georgian sniper fire and three civilians died when the South Ossetian capital Tskhinvali was shelled on Friday night.

South Ossetian President Eduard Kokoity accused Georgia of "attempting to spark a full-scale war", and said he was ready to mobilise volunteer fighters if the situation deteriorated further.

The Georgian interior ministry told the BBC that the separatists had provoked the violence by opening fire first, and troops had responded.

It said snipers were not involved and that populated areas were not shelled.

Georgia has expressed concern at the latest developments

Interior Ministry spokesman Shota Utiashvili also said that South Ossetian forces had blown up a Georgian police car with a mine earlier on Friday, injuring six policemen.

Friday's overnight fighting was the worst violence in South Ossetia for several years.

Skirmishes have erupted frequently along the border, with the two sides accusing each other of starting them.

South Ossetia fought a war to break away from Georgia during the collapse of the USSR at the beginning of the 1990s.

It has remained de facto independent, backed by Russia which has about 1,000 peacekeeping troops stationed there.

Georgia has been seeking to restore its control over both South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

I'd call those 'pressure troops', but whatever. More important is the declaration of Saakashvilli to start up some kind of autonomous regions. Both a step toward NATO, and a step away from Russian interference.

Daar is de lente, daar is de zon bijna, maar ik denk dat ze weldra zal komen. De fallus impudicus staat al in bloei En de blaadjes krijgen bomen. M'n vrouw en m'n kat zijn allebei krols en de klokken vertrekken naar Rome

"What country can preserve its liberties if its rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms." --Thomas Jefferson to William Stephens Smith, 1787.

I think the Russians need a course of diplomacy.

Maybe some one could give them the translation of "don't stick your oar in where it isn't needed" ie **** off.

is that like pipelines??

Western words fall on deaf Russian ears

The danger now is that Russia will not only use this crisis to demonstrate its military power in the region, but argue it is time to redraw the map.

Arriving on the border on Saturday, Vladimir Putin declared it was unlikely now that South Ossetia would reintegrate with the rest of Georgia.

This is precisely the outcome Georgia was trying to avoid.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7552016.stm

"What country can preserve its liberties if its rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms." --Thomas Jefferson to William Stephens Smith, 1787.

Note that Putin is dealing with in in person, not the president, Medvedev.

Daar is de lente, daar is de zon bijna, maar ik denk dat ze weldra zal komen. De fallus impudicus staat al in bloei En de blaadjes krijgen bomen. M'n vrouw en m'n kat zijn allebei krols en de klokken vertrekken naar Rome

Mikhail Saakashvili supported by the Nato.

Russia is only defending its citizens. Georgia agressed Ossetia and killed 1800 Russian civilians during the invasion, they have to pay. Russia barely started fighting (The Russian navy started moving only yesterday) yet Georgians are crying and calling for a ceasefire.

Ossetia & Abkhazia are already LOST. The partnership with Israel, Nato & USA leads them nowhere. Those countries won't fire a single bullet to defend Georgia. The destruction of

I only hope that civilians won't have to endure the consequences of the foolishness of their leaders. The commoners living in Gori are very made and upset against their governement. They really think that the war against Ossetians wasn't necessary. Where is the Georgian government who was unable to defend its citizens ? They should come to Gori to see the results of their suicidal war. Normal thing it's David against Goliath.

Why the Nato & USA have the right to bomb Serbia in 1999 and when Russians do the same thing, it's a scandal ? Brute force rules. If you don't have enough troops & weapons you won't be respected. If you don't understand this you know nothing about international relationships

"My strength alone move mountains tall, and before my will all others fall" - Xiang Yu

Both countries are being a bit of an ass. Just cuz that Georgian province wants to be part of Russia, they start fighting. The world is so materialistic. Like there isn't enough war anyways...

JOIN!!!

Minuscelsius Fast and Crazy!!!! Ready for it?

@sky... 1800... first Russians said yesterday that it was 2000 civilians dead, today it was still only 1500. Russian sources. And changing constantly.
I don't like that Saakashvilli guy. But clear is that Putin had plans already. He's leading the whole war, while the president should do so.
Russian troops were already in S-Ossetia, peace keeping troops.
According to so many Russians the Ossetians and Abchasians should be free to join Russia, while Dagestani and Chechens only have the right to get killed.
and giving Russian passports to people abroad could be called 'creati ng a tough situation.' How can Georgia take them in Democratic account when they themselves choose to be foreigners. Should Georgia maybe let foreigners vote?

Daar is de lente, daar is de zon bijna, maar ik denk dat ze weldra zal komen. De fallus impudicus staat al in bloei En de blaadjes krijgen bomen. M'n vrouw en m'n kat zijn allebei krols en de klokken vertrekken naar Rome

russia just don'T want orange circle arraound themselves cauntry so they are right but guilty isnT civillians

Si vis pacem, para bellum(Vegetius)

So you say that because the countries around have different opinions, it is a good thing to bomb them? So Russia has the right to bomb Ukraine, Finland and the Baltics too now?

Daar is de lente, daar is de zon bijna, maar ik denk dat ze weldra zal komen. De fallus impudicus staat al in bloei En de blaadjes krijgen bomen. M'n vrouw en m'n kat zijn allebei krols en de klokken vertrekken naar Rome

no.First Georgia started attack because they believed america but america can do nothing for them now..actually Turkey and America also support Georgian army they are responsible to dead people..so Saaskasvili saw himself on giant mirror believed West and he loosed..he is guilty because innocent people dead KGB have to delete him

Si vis pacem, para bellum(Vegetius)

Russia has supported the separatists and been provocing Georgia for quite some time, Georgia only answered the provocations in the South Ossetian part. Even if the area is infected with russian filth its still Georgian territory, russians has absolutely no right of being there. I hope this will be a lesson and that neighbouring countries of Russia gets whatever military support they need to be able to defend themselves from the russians because this wont be the last time the russians tries to seize other countries territories. Remember the riots in Estonia last year, today it's Georgia and it's probably Ukraine next, never trust a russian.

frewurny glirt ptohtsm!

i have heard over 2000 lives lost, where's that organizations who are always shouting for "Human rights". Why they are silence?
Do u see how MEDIA & Those Organizations acts?, so funny, They have two faces . Mostly shouting for dollars they get than doing a social work.

----- Space is cool, like to fly to end! -----

Under Soviet rule Ossetia was split into Northern and Southern regions in 1920s. North Ossetia stayed in Russian Federal Republic, while South Ossetia was forced to become the South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast (SOAO) within the Soviet Republic of Georgia. After the Soviet Union collapse the Soviet Republic of Georgia became an independent country. Why didn’t Georgia let South Ossetia become independent either at the same time? Since the break-up of the Soviet Union, the South Ossetians, have been attempting to gain independence since November 1989 when the SOAO Council sent a letter to the Georgian Supreme Soviet demanding to be unified with North Ossetia, mostly out of concern regarding Georgian nationalism and subsequent second class treatment. The Georgian leaders did not meet the demands of the South Ossetians and went so far as to ban all regional political parties in September 1990 during parliamentary elections. The Ossetians interpreted this as a move directly intended to weaken South Ossetian autonomy and power in the political system. Therefore, Soviet leaders approved of unification with North Ossetia, located in Russia, but Georgian leaders did not. This triggered a series of events which eventually led to violent conflict between the South Ossetians and Georgia.  

"Take care of the sense, and the sounds will take care of themselves."

Georgia is like 1000+ years old, just because russian bolsheviks split Ossetia up in two parts less than 100 years ago doesnt make it theirs does it?

frewurny glirt ptohtsm!

Are you going to have a look at the whole world 1000+years ago? :-) We are speaking about the reasons of the present-day conflict, aren’t we? And I just wondered why Georgia declaring principles of democracy and independence didn’t follow the principles regarding South Ossetia.   

"Take care of the sense, and the sounds will take care of themselves."

Elena,What do u think about Chechnya?

I think that if they want to be an independent country, independent from any other country, let them be. But they are torn apart inside by their own clans.    

"Take care of the sense, and the sounds will take care of themselves."

Georgia was under Russian influence since the days of Peter the great. Why Europeans and Americans involve themselves in this place ?

"My strength alone move mountains tall, and before my will all others fall" - Xiang Yu

Gee, maybe we should let all minorities in all countries vote for their independency just becuase they at some time in history was invaded by ethnicities that obviously doesnt belong there? Who's next to have their country shattered into pieces? Ukraine? Estonia? Latvia?

frewurny glirt ptohtsm!

I prefer to trust russia cuz more transparent politic tactics is there Russia if your enemy you can understand or ur friend you can feel they are with you western like theatre always acting..but our politicians just follow western this is sucks

Si vis pacem, para bellum(Vegetius)

Ossetia is not a minority, it’s a republic. 

"Take care of the sense, and the sounds will take care of themselves."

Georgia had nothing to do with Russia during the reign of Peter the Great.It was not even near.

Daar is de lente, daar is de zon bijna, maar ik denk dat ze weldra zal komen. De fallus impudicus staat al in bloei En de blaadjes krijgen bomen. M'n vrouw en m'n kat zijn allebei krols en de klokken vertrekken naar Rome

No-one is a terrorist. A terrorist is a completely different thing.
My understanding is that there are three reasons for the fighting.
1. There are two provences in Georgia that wish to be independant from Georgia, these have a large Russian ethnic population.
2. Georgia is more pro-west and wishes to join NATO.
3. Georgia is a pipeline for Russian fuel/gas and oil to go to the west.

I believe that Russia is the aggressor and is flexing their muscles.

Georgia attacked russian peace forces and 12 of them dead..Now innocent Georgian die for this stupid tactic thats stupid president Saaskivi's guilty and western's.. SAskivi just fucked up themselves comfort life..he is have to go america

Si vis pacem, para bellum(Vegetius)

Georgia is just on the Russia's way. They are too near Russia to join NATO, just like the other ex Soviet republics in that region. To much time has passed for Russia to bring its influence to Latia, Lithuania, ... they lost their influence in the region of Balkan, parts of Assia,...

I don't like what Russinas do in Georgia, but this is the model that Americans use in the Balkans, Iraq, Avganistan. They fought against regimes in order to put their leaders in the power. Calling Russia to respect territorial integrity and suverenity, to respect leaders elected on "democratic elections" is pathetic or cynical.

My country is occupied by Americans, hart of my country is occupied by NATO, territorial integrity and suverenity is broken, so Bush and other leaders should just keep their mouths closed. From one side I feel satisfaction when I see Americans helpless, but in the other I know what are Georgian people going trough now. I really hope that all Russians actions are planed in order to help people in South Osetia and Abhasia, otherwise there is no difference between Americans and Russians regims...

Russia 'ends Georgia operation'

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has ordered an end to military operations against Georgia, the Kremlin says.

He told officials that the safety of Russian citizens and peacekeepers in South Ossetia had been restored.

Russia also backed an EU plan to end the five-day-old conflict. Envoys will now try to get Georgian approval.

Each side continues to accuse the other of breaking ceasefire accords, and analysts warn that the two remain far apart on a number of issues.

The conflict began overnight last Thursday, when Russia responded to Georgian military action in South Ossetia.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7555858.stm

So what now?

"What country can preserve its liberties if its rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms." --Thomas Jefferson to William Stephens Smith, 1787.

so?people dead for what?

Si vis pacem, para bellum(Vegetius)