Latest...BBC reporter says that a series of explosions have been heard, black smoke has been seen around the city. Explosions and gunfire heard in the hills around the town. A lot of Russian tank activity.
22 minutes ago
TBILISI, Georgia (AP) — Explosions heard near Georgian city of Gori as Russian troop withdrawal appears to collapse.
Russia: ‘Forget’ About Georgian Territorial Integrity; Explosions in Gori
Thursday, August 14, 2008
GORI, Georgia — Explosions were heard near Gori on Thursday as a Russian troop withdrawal from the strategic city seemed to collapse. A fragile cease-fire appeared even more shaky as Russia’s foreign minister declared that the world “can forget about any talk about Georgia’s territorial integrity.”
The declaration from Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov came simultaneously with the announcement that Russian President Dmitry Medvedev was meeting in the Kremlin with the leaders of Georgia’s two separatist provinces.
“One can forget about any talk about Georgia’s territorial integrity because, I believe, it is impossible to persuade South Ossetia and Abkhazia to agree with the logic that they can be forced back into the Georgian state,” Lavrov told reporters.
At least five explosions were heard near Gori. It could not immediately be determined if the blasts were a renewal of fighting between Georgian and Russian forces, but they sounded similar to mortar shells and occurred after a tense confrontation between Russian and Georgian troops on the edge of the city.
More,
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,403462,00.html
Just coming across the wires -
Russian armour massed near Zugdidi-Reuters witness
14 Aug 2008 12:23:39 GMT
Source: Reuters
</SPAN> ZUGDIDI, Georgia, Aug 14 (Reuters) - More than 100 Russian armoured vehicles were massed two km (1.5 miles) from the centre of Zugdidi, a major town in western Georgia, a Reuters witness said.
“I counted 104 Russian army vehicles, including 40 armoured vehicles, most of which are tanks,” Reuters staff photographer Umit Bektas said by telephone from the city.
Bektas said their purpose was unclear.
He said the convoy included weapons such as rocket propelled grenades and was carrying Russian flags. (Writing by Guy Faulconbridge and Melissa Akin)
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LE695362.htm