Russia expands Georgia blitz, deploys ships

[unhappycamper]

A column of Russian armored vehicles is seen on the way to the South Ossetian capital Tskhinvali on August 9.


Russia expands Georgia blitz, deploys ships
By Misha Dzhindzhikhashvili - The Associated Press
Posted : Sunday Aug 10, 2008 17:16:31 EDT

TBILISI, Georgia — Russia expanded its bombing blitz to the Georgian capital, deployed ships off the coast and, a Georgian official said, sent tanks from the separatist region of South Ossetia into Georgian territory, heading toward a border city before being turned back Sunday.

Russia also claimed its forces sank a Georgian missile boat that was trying to attack Russian ships in the Black Sea, news agencies reported.

U.S.-allied Georgia called a unilateral cease-fire — “We are not crazy,” said President Mikhail Saakashvili — and claimed its troops were retreating Sunday from the disputed province of South Ossetia in the face of Russia’s far superior firepower. Russia said the soldiers were “not withdrawing but regrouping” and refused to recognize a truce.

The Russian Defense Ministry refused to comment to The Associated Press on the reports of the sinking and Georgian officials could not immediately be reached. If confirmed, it could mark a serious escalation of the fighting that has raged between Russia and Georgia over South Ossetia.

International envoys headed in to try to end the fighting between Russia and its small U.S.-allied neighbor that erupted last week in the Russian-backed separatist region.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/08/ap_russia_georgia_081008/