Russia sent hundreds of tanks and troops into the separatist province of South Ossetia and bombed Georgian towns today in a major escalation of the conflict that has left scores of civilians dead and wounded.

International experts from the United States, Sweden and other nations travelled to Tbilisi today as part of the investigation into Georgia’s claims that a Russian aircraft violated Georgian airspace and dropped or fired a missile that landed near a village.

Russia today denied a claim by Georgian officials who said two Russian fighter jets violated its airspace and fired a missile which did not explode.

Georgian authorities were expected to issue a statement today on the report of a possible attempt to throw a hand grenade at US President George Bush during his speech in the capital Tbilisi.

A powerful car-bomb exploded outside a police station in Georgia today, killing at least four people.