Updated: added video
by Andrei Areshev
Global Research, August 8, 2008
Strategic Culture Foundation
The night of August 7, Georgian forces launched an attack on Tskhinvali, which Tbilisi cynically described as an effort to restore the constitutional order. Just hours earlier, Saakashvili declared a ceasefire in the conflict zone, but the move was only a propaganda maneuver disguising the plan for a large-scale offensive. The timing is carefully chosen — the attention worldwide is focused on the opening of the Olympic Games, Russian Prime Minister V. Putin is in Beijing, and Russian President D. Medvedev is on a short vacation.
Georgian forces are acting with extreme ferocity. A total devastation of the Tskhinvali downtown which came under Grad missile, artillery, mortar, and machinegun fire has been reported. Dozens of blasts shatter the city every minute. Tens of armored vehicles and thousands of soldiers moved into the conflict zone. Russian Peacekeeping Force Deputy Commander V. Ivanov said that the positions of the peacekeepers were not directly targeted or hit and that they continue to watch the situation in the region. However, the Ossetian side and Russian journalists say that the peacekeepers’ headquarters came under fire.
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NATO encouraged Georgia – Russian envoy
Global Research, August 8, 2008
Russia Today
Russia’s envoy to NATO, Dmitry Rogozin, has sent an official note to representatives of all member countries in Brussels in connection with Georgia’s military actions against South Ossetia. He’s calling on them not to support Mikhail Saakashvili.
“Russia has already begun consultations with the ambassadors of the NATO countries and consultations with NATO military representatives will be held tomorrow,” Rogozin said. “We will caution them against continuing to further support of Saakashvili.”
Rogozin says Georgian aggression against South Ossetia is obvious.
“It is an undisguised aggression accompanied by a mass propaganda war,” he said.
Rogozin has linked Friday’s onslaught to the support given to Saakashvili at the recent NATO summit in Bucharest. At the meeting, Rogozin says, it “was hinted Georgia has prospects in NATO.”
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South Ossetia says over 1,000 dead after Georgian attack
Global Research, August 8, 2008
RIA Novosti
08/08/2008 21:45 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.
© Copyright, RIA Novosti, 2008
The url address of this article is: www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=9773
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Updated
Casualties and damage in the S Ossetian conflict
Georgian troops have poured into South Ossetia and the Georgian president has appealed to the international community for assistance.
Russian troops have been shown on Russia’s television channels being treated in hospital, and claim that 15 of their soldiers have died.
More than 30,000 people have tried to flee the fighting, but civilians have been caught up in air raids.
Harry Smith has this report.
see
Russia-Georgia fighting escalates in South Ossetia + UN stalemated
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