War between Russia and Georgia in South Ossetia still looms

Georgian troops are massing around rebel strongholds in South Ossetia in what appears to be a buildup in readiness for a final leap into full scale war. Interfax reports that two Georgian army groups have surrounded several key cities and appear to be cutting off the main highway between South Ossetia and North Ossetia. North Ossetia is part of the Russian Federation and was the scene of last month's bloody school hostage massacre in Beslan. South Ossetia is located in the nation of Georgia, but it's inhabitants have religious and ethnic ties to Russia. Georgia accuses the Russian government of supporting the decade old rebellion.

As Georgia edges closer to breaking the cease-fire and ending the civil war, South Ossetia's self-proclaimed President Eduard Kokoity has called for unification with Russia. Mosnews reports that Kokoity argues that since 98% of South Ossetians are citizens of Russia:

It’s time we get rid of the ’north’ and ’south’ — there is one Ossetia, and it will be united within Russia.

Meanwhile, diplomats in a joint Russian/Georgian commission on resolving the crisis peacefully report that the atmosphere has grown tense, ITAR-TASS reports. At issue is the proposal to move a joint security force of the OSCE into the Roki Pass which links South Ossetia with North Ossetia. With the South Ossetians rejecting international security forces in the region, it appears that Georgia has decided to send it's own troops to cut off the rebels' support from sympathetic Russians in the North. Such a move could draw Russian regular troops into the conflict and lead to an all out regional war.

Background on the Ossetian crisis can be found in these previous posts:
War Looms Between Russia and Georgia
Ossetia: Impending War, Georgia vs. Russia
Georgia and Separatist S.Ossetia Agree Cease-Fire
Ossetia Ceasefire Broken
War Imminent Between Georgia and Russia

Posted by: Rusty at 01:41 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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