The New Nation - Internet Edition

Reuters, Megvrekisi

Fighting raged around the capital of Georgia's breakaway South Ossetia on Friday as Georgian troops, backed by warplanes, pounded separatist forces in a bid to re-take control of the territory.

Russian news agency Interfax reported that Georgian troops had entered the besieged town of Tskhinvali after intense battles overnight.

But Georgia denied the Interfax report. Interior ministry spokesman Shota Utiashvili said Georgian forces had not yet entered Tskhinvali, but were engaged in a battle with two convoys, carrying "mercenaries," which had entered South Ossetia from Russia and were trying to reach the town.

"We want to give time to the remaining civilians to leave (the town)," Utiashvili said. Asked if Georgian forces planned to enter the capital, he said: "If the need arises.

Georgian big guns shelled Tskhinvali, where government and separatists envoys had been due to meet for Russia-mediated peace talks later on Friday. Many houses were ablaze. Russian peacekeepers said three of their men were wounded and their headquarters damaged during shelling of the town, Interfax news agency reported.

In Tbilisi, Georgian Prime Minister Lado Gurgenidze said the military operation would continue until a "durable peace" had been reached.

Russia, main backer of the separatists who have controlled the region since a war in the early 1990s, accused Georgia of treachery and urged the world community to avert "massive bloodshed."