Russia is not pleased with Georgia's desire to join NATO. Read on.  Haruna.
 
 
Georgian forces and South Ossetian separatists have been  exchanging heavy 
fire just hours after agreeing to a ceasefire and  Russian-mediated talks.  
Russian media reports said Georgia had launched a tank-led attack on the  
separatist stronghold of Tskhinvali, and airstrikes on rebel positions.  
Georgia says it aims to finish "a criminal regime" and restore order.  
At least 15 people are reported dead. Moscow called on the world community to 
 work "to avert massive bloodshed".  
At Russia's request, members of the UN Security Council are holding a rare  
emergency session to discuss a response to the escalating violence.  
The BBC's Matthew Collin in Tbilisi says there has been a series of huge  
explosions and rocket fire in and around Tskhinvali.  
Hundreds of fighters from Russia and Georgia's other breakaway region of  
Abkhazia are reportedly heading to aid the separatist troops.  
'Perfidious step'  
South Ossetian rebel leader Eduard Kokoity told Russia's Interfax news agency 
 that Georgia had launched an all-out attack on the town of Tskhinvali, in 
what  he called "a perfidious and base step".  
  
SOUTH OSSETIA 
 
 
Population: About 70,000 
Capital: Tskhinvali 
Major languages: Ossetian, Georgian, Russian 
Major religion: Orthodox Christianity 
Currency: Russian rouble, Georgian lari 




 (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7547888.stm) 

The  head of Georgian peacekeepers in South Ossetia said the operation was 
intended  to "restore constitutional order" to the region.  
The Georgian Minister for Integration, Temur Yakobashvili, said Georgia's aim 
 was not to take over the territory but to finish "a criminal regime".  
Days of fierce conflict have raised fears of a new war in the volatile  
Caucasus.  
In a televised address, Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili earlier called 
 for the bloodshed to end, but also warned the Russian-backed separatists not 
to  try Tbilisi's patience.  
A truce was later announced, with emergency talks set for Friday, but by  
nightfall, both sides were trading heavy fire.  
Georgia accuses Russia of arming the South Ossetian authorities - who have  
been trying to break away since the civil war in the 1990s. Moscow denies the  
claim.  
President Saakashvili has vowed to restore Tbilisi's control over South  
Ossetia and Abkhazia.  
The Ossetians have traditionally had good relations with Russia, and North  
Ossetia is part of the Russian Federation.  
Russia is hostile to Georgia's ambition to join Nato and has accused Georgia  
of building up its forces around the breakaway regions, where Russian  
peacekeeping troops are deployed.



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