Russians move into breakaway region to attack Georgian troops

Friday 8th August, 2008 Russian tanks and troops surged into Georgia's breakaway South Ossetia province on Friday to repel a Georgian offensive.Fierce clashes between Russian and Georgian troops in the southern suburbs of South Ossetia's capital Tskhinvali were reported by Russian news agencies.Moscow had vowed retaliation to defend Russians in Tskhinvali who had come under fire by the Georgian artillery and air assault, in the worst fighting since the 1992-94 separatist war in the region.The president of Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia has reported hundreds of civilians killed in the separatist capital.President Eduard Kokoity said the fighting was a genocide, with "hundreds of peaceful inhabitants lost.He said: "These last tragic events should become the last step toward recognition of South Ossetia's independence.At least 10 Russian peacekeepers were killed as the heavy fighting raged in South Ossetia.Despite television images of wounded Georgian soldiers in local hospitals, there has been no official confirmation of casualties.Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said his troops now controlled a large part of South Ossetia and had "liberated" Tskhinvali.Comments on this story Russians move into breakaway region to attack Georgian troopsmore and more former soviet former members will be fighting each other and you will read about from time to time.