At least 15 civilians dead as Kosovo precedent leads to full-blown conflict in South Ossetia
At least 15 civilians were killed and many more wounded on Friday as Georgia launched a massive attack to regain control of South Ossetia, which has demanded international recognition of its independence based on the Kosovo precedent.
(KosovoCompromise Staff) Friday, August 08, 2008
The intense fighting included heavy artillery, aircraft and armor, and Tbilisi said it will observe a three-hour ceasefire to allow civilians to leave South Ossetia's capital, Tskhinvali.
Russia, meanwhile, decided to send its troops to South Ossetia to protect its citizens there.
In New York, the U.N. Security Council failed to agree early Friday on a statement drafted by Russia that would have called on Georgia and South Ossetia to immediately put down their arms.
"The Security Council is not yet in a position to express itself on the situation," said Belgian Ambassador Jan Grauls, the council president this month. He said there were no immediate plans for the council to take up the matter again.
The council concluded it was at a stalemate after the U.S., Britain and some other members backed the Georgians in rejecting a phrase in the three-sentence draft statement that would have required both sides "to renounce the use of force," council diplomats said.
"We think that this is a very serious error of judgment and political blunder," Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said of the council members' disagreement. "I hope that the Georgian side will reconsider its reckless actions in the area of the Georgia-South Ossetia conflict."
