Fighting intensifies in South Ossetia

Fierce fighting erupted in Georgia’s breakaway enclave of South Ossetia on the 7 and 8 August 2008, and government troops reportedly surrounded Tskhinvali, the region’s capital, following days of clashes with separatist forces in the area.

Features cover the escalation of the dispute into an armed conflict between Georgia and Russia over the following days.

BBC News, 9.8.08: Peace bid as Ossetia crisis rages http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7551595.stm

BBC News, 9.8.08: No quick fix to S Ossetia conflict http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7550780.stm

Russia Today, 9.8.08: Abkhazia starts war with Georgia http://rt.com/news/

Russia Today, 9.8.08: Georgia resumes shelling the South Ossetian capital http://rt.com/news/

OSCE: Press Release, 8.8.08: OSCE Chairman calls for a halt to all military action, re-establishment of contact in the Georgian-Ossetian conflict http://www.osce.org/cio/49982

Council of Europe: Press Release, No.571, 2008: Council of Europe Secretary General Terry Davis: protect the civilian population in Georgia https://wcd.coe.int/ViewDoc.jsp?Ref=PR571(2008)&Language=lanEnglish&Ver=original&Site=DC&BackColorInternet=F5CA75&BackColorIntranet=F5CA75&BackColorLogged=A9BACE

UN: Press Release, 8.8.08: Security Council hears conflicting Russian, Georgian views of worsening crisis... http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2008/sc9418.doc.htm

BBC News, 8.8.08: Heavy fighting in South Ossetia http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7546639.stm

BBC News, 7.8.08: Georgia clashes reignite war fears http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7547888.stm

France24, 8.8.08: Georgian forces move on Ossetian capital http://www.france24.com/en/20080808-georgia-surrounds-ossetian-capital-georgia-south-ossetia&navi=MONDE

Russia Today, 8.8.08: Georgia begins war to retake South Ossetia http://www.russiatoday.ru/news/news/28640

OSCE: Press Release, 7.8.08: OSCE Chairman says seriously concerned by Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone fighting http://www.osce.org/cio/49981

UN: Press Release, 7.8.08: Georgia: Ban voices alarm at growing violence in South Ossetia http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=27629&Cr=georgia&Cr1

Council of the European Union: Press Release: S275/08: EU High Representative Javier Solana had today a phone conversation with Mikheil Saakashvili, President of Georgia, on the situation on South Ossetia http://www.consilium.europa.eu/ueDocs/cms_Data/docs/pressData/en/declarations/102196.pdf

ESO: Background information: Conflict history: Georgia http://www.europeansources.info/record/website-georgia-2/

Russia Today, 10.8.08: Georgian troops pull out of South Ossetia http://rt.com/news/

BBC News, 10.8.08: Georgia 'pulls out of S Ossetia' http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7552012.stm

International Crisis Group: Press Release, 8.8.08: Georgia Conflict Alert: The Need for an Immediate End to Hostilities in South Ossetia http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=5621&l=1&m=1

BBC News, 8.8.08: Russian tanks enter South Ossetia http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7548715.stm

Council of the European Union: Press Release: S276/08: EU HR Javier Solana calls for urgent efforts to end the violence in South Ossetia http://www.consilium.europa.eu/ueDocs/cms_Data/docs/pressData/en/declarations/102220.pdf

EMM: South Ossetia http://emm.newsbrief.eu/NewsBrief/searchresults/en/advanced.html?exact=south%20ossetia&lang=en&queryType=advanced

Deutsche Welle, 8.8.08: Russia, Georgia Near Full-Scale War Over South Ossetia http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,3546849,00.html

Spiegel Online International, 8.8.08: Caucasus Violence Took Europe By Surprise http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,570893,00.html

Radio Netherlands Worldwide, 8.8.08: Conflict in South Ossetia escalates http://www.radionetherlands.nl/currentaffairs/region/europe/080808-georgia-russia-ossetia

France24, 8.8.08: Georgia and Russia fight over South Ossetia http://www.france24.com/en/20080808-georgian-troops-surround-breakaway-region-capital-south-ossetia&navi=MONDE

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