Kavkaz

BRUSSELS, Aug 11 – The European Commission has released 1 million euros ($1.52 million) in humanitarian aid for civilians affected by the fighting in South Ossetia, it said in a statement.

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia has boosted its forces in Abkhazia, a second rebel region of Georgia, and now has more than 9,000 paratroopers and 350 armour there, Interfax news agency quoted an aide to the commander of Russian peacekeepers as saying on Monday.

BEIJING (Reuters) – President George W. Bush said on Monday he had expressed grave concern to Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin about Russia’s “disproportionate response” against Georgia in the South Ossetia conflict.

The separatist region of Abkhazia has declared a 10-day ‘state of war’ in its territories close to the de facto borders with Georgia.

The White House has orchestrated the current conflict between Russia and Georgia in South Ossetia, a high-ranking Russian official says.

TSKHINVALI, Georgia (Reuters) – Russian troops and tanks took the capital of the separatist Georgian region of South Ossetia on Sunday after a bloody three-day battle as Georgian forces retreated and offered a ceasefire.

BEIJING (Reuters) – The White House warned Russia on Sunday that military escalation in the Georgia conflict could have a “significant, long-term impact” on relations between Washington and Moscow.

(Reuters) – Following are developments in Georgia at 1030 gmt on Sunday: — A senior Russian defense official said Russian troops controlled most of Tskhinvali, the South Ossetian capital.

TBILISI (Reuters) – Russia has started an operation to storm the Georgian-controlled Kodori gorge in Georgia’s breakaway region of Abkhazia, the Georgian Interior Ministry said on Sunday.

MOSCOW (Reuters) – The commander of the 58th Army that spearheaded the Russian counter-attack in Georgia’s breakaway region of South Ossetia was injured by shrapnel and is undergoing treatment in hospital, Itar-Tass news agency said.