Tskhinvali has been fully liberated

Russia says Georgian forces expelled from S.Ossetian capital

Russia’s peacekeeping command said on Saturday the country’s troops have driven Georgian forces from the capital of the separatist republic of South Ossetia.

“Tskhinvali has been fully liberated,” a spokesman said.

The city has suffered major destruction since the start of Georgia’s ground and air onslaught that began early on Friday. Russia says 1,500 people have so far died in the violence, and 30,000 South Ossetians have fled across the border into Russia.

Bush said on Saturday he was deeply concerned by the escalating conflict between Russia and Georgia

Bush voices concern over escalating violence in Georgia

United States President George W. Bush said on Saturday he was deeply concerned by the escalating conflict between Russia and Georgia over the separatist republic of South Ossetia.

Russian military has freed Tskhinvali

Russian Military Has Freed Tskhinvali

The Russian military has freed Tskhinvali and has “begun pressing the Georgian units out of the peacekeeping force’s zone of responsibility,” main commander of the Russian infantry Gen. Vladimir Boldyrev stated on the Vesti television news channel. “But the situation in the conflict zone remains extremely difficult,” he added.

Russian president told his U.S. counterpart

Medvedev tells Bush Russia aims to force Georgia to accept peace

The Russian president told his U.S. counterpart on Saturday that Russia’s ongoing military operation in Georgia’s breakaway republic of South Ossetia is aimed at forcing Georgia to accept peace.

Russia has received more than 30,000 refugees from South Ossetia

Russia Receives Refugees from South Ossetia

Russia has received more than 30,000 refugees from South Ossetia in the last couple of days. All people seeking support of authorities are being rendered the required aid, Interfax reported with reference to the RF Vice Premier Sergei Sobyanin.

Russia dropped bombs on Georgia’s artillery 10km from Gori-town of Georgia

Russia’s Warplanes Bombed Out Georgia’s Artillery near Gori

Two warplanes of Russia dropped bombs on Georgia’s artillery 10km from Gori-town of Georgia. The bombs were lowered near the telecom tower in Gori.

Victims of the military action in South Ossetia reached 1500

General Staff and Foreign Ministry Release Info about Wounded

The total number of victims of the military action in South Ossetia reached 1500 people and continues to grow, Associated Press reports. That was announced by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at a telephone press conference with foreign journalists. According to information from Interfax, Anatoly Nagovitsyn, deputy chief of the general staff, reported 20 deaths among Russian peacekeepers and 50 Russian military wounded.

Mikheil Saakashvili announced the decision to impose martial law

Georgia Is under Martial Law, Tskhinvali Is under Kokoity

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili announced the decision to impose martial law in Georgia at a session of the National Security Council on Saturday. Meanwhile, Interfax reports that South Ossetian President Eduard Kokoity is in Tskhinvali at the head of South Ossetian Defense Ministry squadron.

Russian News: August 9th, 2008!

RBC, 08.08.2008, Moscow 19:44:58.Russia will stop air traffic with Georgia starting at 12 a.m. on August 9, 2008, head of the Russian Transportation Ministry’s press office Timur Khikmatov told RBC today.

RBC, 08.08.2008, Moscow 17:55:29.More than 10 Russian peacekeepers were killed in the shelling of Tskhinvali, South Ossetia’s capital, and some 30 peacekeepers more were injured, head of public relations of Russia’s Ground Troops Colonel Igor Konashenkov.

RBC, 08.08.2008, Tskhinvali 17:47:01.Russian army has entered South Ossetia, RBC’s correspondent reported from Tskhinvali. He pointed out that it was impossible to name the exact number of tanks and other armored vehicles that entered the city, adding that the number was rather significant.

RBC, 08.08.2008, Moscow 15:58:05.At today’s special dollar trading session for tomorrow deals, the low on deals remained at 23.7755 RUB/USD, while the high on deals spiraled to 24.18 RUB/USD, up RUB 0.40 from the opening. The weighted average dollar exchange rate followed, reaching 23.96 RUB/USD, which is RUB 0.08 above the official exchange rate set by the Bank of Russia for the next three days.

Russia: georgia Kills Over 1000 Civilians In South Ossetia!

MOSCOW, August 8 (RIA Novosti) – Over 1,000 civilians have been killed as the result of an attack by Georgia on the capital of its breakaway republic of South Ossetia, the North Ossetian nationalities minister said Friday.

“According to the South Ossetian information and press committee, the number of fatalities is estimated, according to preliminary information, at over 1,000,” Teimuraz Kasayev said.

North Ossetia is part of Russia.

Georgia launched a major offensive early Friday morning using tanks, combat aircraft, heavy artillery and infantry.

Earlier Colonel Igor Konashenkov, an aide to the commander of the Russian Ground Forces, said about 10 Russian peacekeepers were killed and 30 wounded in the conflict zone.

The Russian Transportation Ministry’s press service said Friday that Moscow would cut air links with Tbilisi.

Georgian military forces have begun retreating from the capital, Tskhinvali, the South Ossetian information and press committee said.

“Using grenade launchers [South] Ossetian local defense forces are destroying Georgian tanks. According to eyewitnesses they [the tanks] are on fire throughout the city,” the committee said in a statement.

The statement also said that most of the city had been devastated by the Georgian military attack, which left the hospital destroyed and the republic’s university on fire.

http://en.rian.ru/world/20080808/115908220.html