dks75's Blog

In the latest development in the widening dispute, Russian troops moved from another separatist province, Abkhazia, and invaded Georgian territory proper.

Georgian Defense Ministry officials told the Associated Press that Russian troops had seized a military base in the town of Senaki, about 32 km inland from the Black Sea. A Georgian Interior Ministry spokesman, meanwhile, said Russian forces also took over police stations in the town of Zugdidi, which is about 30 km from Senaki.

The violence began when Russia sent troops into South Ossetia last Friday after Georgia tried to regain control there. The Georgian offensive involved artillery, armour and aircraft.

Russia has said that more than 2,000 people have been killed since then, most of them Ossetians with Russian passports.