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U.S. warns Russia to end Georgia onslaught
over fears Moscow will seize crucial oil
pipelines
By Will Stewart
Last updated at 1:03 AM on 11th August 2008
Last updated at 1:03 AM on 11th August 2008
- U.S. 'warns' Russia to end its onslaught on Georgia
- Russian tanks attempting to cross into Georgia are turned back
- Russia claims it has sunk Georgian missile boat in Black Sea
- Georgia calls for a ceasefire in the stricken region
- Refugee crisis as 40,000 flee
America warned Russia to end its onslaught on Georgia after claims
that Moscow intends to seize the whole country to gain control of its
crucial oil pipelines.
that Moscow intends to seize the whole country to gain control of its
crucial oil pipelines.
The West believes the Kremlin is using the conflict to disrupt
fuel supplies running from the Caspian Sea to Europe through the small
country.
fuel supplies running from the Caspian Sea to Europe through the small
country.
This could make the West even more dependent on Russian oil.
Despair: A woman holding her baby cries at her damaged home in Gori
A bloodied woman lies injured in the ruins of an apartment block in Gori after another Russian air strike
Georgia said that its troops are now pulling back from the disputed region of South Ossetia.
But with the death toll from three days of war rising above 2,000, there were fears that the conflict could escalate further as:
� The Russian Defence Ministry claimed to have sunk a Georgian
missile boat which was trying to attack its navy in the Black Sea;
missile boat which was trying to attack its navy in the Black Sea;
� The Georgian government claimed that 4,000 Russian troops have
landed in the country's other breakaway region, Abkhazia, to stir up
more trouble;
landed in the country's other breakaway region, Abkhazia, to stir up
more trouble;
� There were signs that Russia's superior firepower is already
threatening to overwhelm its small neighbour, which has called for a
ceasefire.
threatening to overwhelm its small neighbour, which has called for a
ceasefire.
The Kremlin said it rejected these calls, because it does not believe the Georgians are retreating from South Ossetia.
It is this breakaway region - which, unlike Georgia proper, is loyal to Russia - which provided the catalyst for the dispute.
Pro-Moscow rebels provoked Georgia's president Mikheil Saakashvili into ordering his troops into South Ossetia last week.
Wounded South Ossetians stay in a hospital shelter in the South Ossetian capital of Tshinvali
Two women attempt to sleep after taking refuge in the hospital shelter
Vladimir Putin's government then retaliated with a counter-offensive to seize back the disputed region.
However, the escalation of violence has led to concerns that Russia could try to annex the entire country.
'They want the whole of Georgia,' claimed Mr Saakashvili.
'The Russians need control over energy routes from central Asia and the Caspian Sea.
'In addition, they want to get rid of us, they want regime change.
Every democratic movement in this neighbouring region must be got rid
of.'
Every democratic movement in this neighbouring region must be got rid
of.'
Following a face-to-face showdown between U.S. President George
Bush and Russian premier Mr Putin at the Olympics in Beijing, the White
House issued a stark warning about the threat of further Russian
aggression.
Bush and Russian premier Mr Putin at the Olympics in Beijing, the White
House issued a stark warning about the threat of further Russian
aggression.
Forced to flee: Georgian women cry as they leave their village near Tskhinvali
An elderly woman leaves the conflict zone of South Ossetia, her belongings in boxes
'We've made it clear to the Russians that if the disproportionate
and dangerous escalation on the Russian side continues, that this will
have a significant long-term impact on U.S.-Russian relations,' said
deputy national security adviser James Jeffrey.
and dangerous escalation on the Russian side continues, that this will
have a significant long-term impact on U.S.-Russian relations,' said
deputy national security adviser James Jeffrey.
'We would be particularly troubled if these attacks are continuing now as the Georgians are pulling back.'
The U.S. would also be 'very, very concerned if in fact there is ground action inside of Georgia proper,' he added.
In light of this, it will disturb the White House that the
Georgian interior ministry claims a group of Russian tanks attempted to
cross from South Ossetia into the territory of Georgia.
Georgian interior ministry claims a group of Russian tanks attempted to
cross from South Ossetia into the territory of Georgia.
According to a spokesman, the tanks were trying to approach Gori, a city of about 50,000 near the South Ossetian border.
Two wounded Georgian soldiers receive treatment in a hospital in Tbilisi
South Ossetians stay in a school shelter in the South Ossetian capital of Tshinvali
However, the official added that the vehicles did not fire on the city and were turned back by Georgian forces.
Russian planes yesterday bombed the main civilian airport in the
capital Tbilisi, which is used by British Airways and other Western
airlines.
capital Tbilisi, which is used by British Airways and other Western
airlines.
A Reuters journalist saw smoke rising from near the runway.
A government official said the Russian air strike appeared to have
been aimed at the nearby military airport and an aviation construction
plant.
been aimed at the nearby military airport and an aviation construction
plant.
'It turns out they hit both military and civilian airports,' the spokesman added.
The attack came hours before the arrival of French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner on a peace mission.
He met the Georgian president yesterday, and is due to travel to Moscow today for talks with Russian leaders.
Bombardment: Forest near the town of Gori goes up in flames
Russian troops pass an abandoned car overloaded with belongings on the road to Tskhinvali, the capital of South Ossetia
'We don't want the conflict to spread in a region which is extremely volatile and dangerous,' Mr Kouchner told reporters.
Despite the attempts of the international community to calm the
crisis, Mr Putin was bullish last night, blaming Georgia for creating a
'humanitarian catastrophe'.
crisis, Mr Putin was bullish last night, blaming Georgia for creating a
'humanitarian catastrophe'.
He appeared on TV listening to two young women from an Ossetian
village who claimed that Georgian soldiers herded 50 people into a
house and burned them alive.
village who claimed that Georgian soldiers herded 50 people into a
house and burned them alive.
One of them said: 'My friend was a witness of a Georgian tank driving over an elderly woman with two kids.'
Putin replied: 'They are completely mad. It's genocide.'
He later claimed that Georgia had lost the right to rule the
region, implying the Russians were set for a long and probably
permanent occupation of both South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
region, implying the Russians were set for a long and probably
permanent occupation of both South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
Anguish: A man cradles the body of a relative in the street after Russian planes bomb homes in Gori, killing five people
Outnumbered: Georgian troops ride on a pick-up truck
It is clear that Moscow is intent on severely hampering
Georgia's military capability, which has been built up with Western
help.
Georgia's military capability, which has been built up with Western
help.
Crucial strategic sites in the port of Poti, the city of Gori -
staging post to South Ossetia - and around Tbilisi have been taken out
by the Russian air force.
staging post to South Ossetia - and around Tbilisi have been taken out
by the Russian air force.
Worst-hit was the capital of the separatist region, Tskhinvali,
but death and devastation was wreaked across the region, as well as in
cities in Georgia.
but death and devastation was wreaked across the region, as well as in
cities in Georgia.
State-controlled Russian television claimed there were more than 2,000 dead in South Ossetia and thousands homeless.
And a Georgian government source said yesterday that 130 civilians
and military personnel had been killed and 1,165 wounded, many because
of Russian bombing.
and military personnel had been killed and 1,165 wounded, many because
of Russian bombing.
The smaller country's withdrawal from South Ossetia left Russian troops in control.
Many towns were deserted with reports of 40,000 fleeing across the war zone.
Russian helicopters hovered above convoys fleeing the territory.
'They were very close, it felt like they were right above our
heads and we could hear firing, though they didn't fire at us,' said a
driver.
heads and we could hear firing, though they didn't fire at us,' said a
driver.
Some 50 ambulances were ferrying wounded Georgian troops from
South Ossetia to hospitals in neighbouring cities, all of which were
already overcrowded.
South Ossetia to hospitals in neighbouring cities, all of which were
already overcrowded.
Russian television showed Tskhinvali's main hospital in ruins and most of the more than 230 patients crammed into the basement.
A few bare lightbulbs provided scant illumination and the report said the hospital had no ready supply of water.
Some patients sat listlessly on beds jammed into a tiny, dim area with unfinished walls.
Western concerns about Moscow's desire to control the region's oil supply were yesterday gathering strength.
While Georgia does not produce oil itself, U.S. and European
energy firms have counted on the pro-Western country - sandwiched
between Russia and Iran - to host a pipeline for oil and gas exports
from Azerbaijan.
energy firms have counted on the pro-Western country - sandwiched
between Russia and Iran - to host a pipeline for oil and gas exports
from Azerbaijan.
The head of Azerbaijan's state oil company warned that exports had
already been halted via the Georgian ports of Batumi and Kulevi due to
the fighting.
already been halted via the Georgian ports of Batumi and Kulevi due to
the fighting.
Under attack: A destroyed Georgian tank is seen at a street in the South Ossetian capital of Tskhinvali
Under attack: Georgian soldiers in the town of Gori sprint past a block of flats destroyed by a Russian bomber
Russian peacekeepers drink beer at a checkpoint near the town of Tskhinvali, 62 miles from Tbilisi
The announcement came shortly after Russian warplanes staged a
raid near the 1,109-mile BTC pipeline, the world's second longest.
raid near the 1,109-mile BTC pipeline, the world's second longest.
BP, a partner in this project, was seeking information on the reports.
Some analysts believe Russia provoked Georgia's attack on South
Ossetia, knowing that the smaller country could not win the resulting
conflict.
Ossetia, knowing that the smaller country could not win the resulting
conflict.
Others say that Moscow was simply drawing a red line around areas
with pro-Russian populations which it would not allow to be controlled
by pro-Western states.
with pro-Russian populations which it would not allow to be controlled
by pro-Western states.
The regions of Ossetia and Abkhazia are culturally and
linguistically distinct from Georgia, and broke away from it during
brief wars in the early 1990s.
linguistically distinct from Georgia, and broke away from it during
brief wars in the early 1990s.
Walking wounded: An injured woman stands next to her home after a bombardment
Fleeing: A boy and a woman stare in terror at the carnage from a vehicle as they are evacuated from South Ossetia
Factfile:
Russia
- Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin said on Sunday that
more than 2,000 people, mostly Russian citizens, had died in the
conflict zone. - On Saturday Russian Ambassador to Georgia Vyacheslav
Kovalenko said at least 2,000 civilians had died in Tskhinvali alone as
a result of fighting between Russian and Georgian forces, according to
Interfax news agency. He said 13 Russian peacekeepers were killed and
up to 70 injured in the fighting. - Sergei Sobyanin, the Russian government chief of staff, said
30,000 South Ossetian refugees had fled to Russia since early on Friday.
Georgia
- Kakha Lomaia, the National Security Council secretary, said on
Sunday that 40 civilians killed and more than 200 wounded but gave no
details. - A source in the Georgian government told Reuters on Saturday 129 Georgian civilians and military were killed and 748 wounded.
- Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said Russian aerial bombing had killed around 30 Georgian soldiers.
South Ossetia
- South Ossetia's President Eduard Kokoity on Friday said about 1,400 people had died in Tskinvali.