Russian forces control Tskhinvali, plan new offensive

Tbilisi, August 10, 2008

Russian forces have taken control of the capital of South Ossetia and are preparing a new offensive in the western breakaway region of Abkhazia, the Georgian interior ministry said on Sunday.

"Yes, Russians control Tskhinvali," ministry spokesman Shota Utiashvili told Reuters.

Georgia said earlier it had withdrawn its forces from South Ossetia on Sunday after days of heavy fighting with Russian troops.

Utiashvili said Moscow was preparing "new aggression" in Georgia's other breakaway region, Abkhazia, where separatists said they had sent troops to the disputed Kodori gorge.-Reuters

Tags: Russia | offensive | control | Tskhinvali |