Hundreds killed as Russia raids Georgian town
Russian tanks and troops rumbled into the separatist Georgian province of South Ossetia today and Russian warplanes bombed a Georgian town – a major surge in border fighting that has killed hundreds of civilians in just two days and left some towns in smouldering ruins.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Moscow sent troops into South Ossetia to force Georgia into a ceasefire and prevent Georgia from retaking control of its breakaway region. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Georgia had effectively lost the right to rule it – an indication Moscow could be preparing to fulfil South Ossetians’ wish to be absorbed into Russia.
