Forum Views () 
Forum Replies ()  
 
 
Read more with google mobile :
Russia warns of force if more Georgia 'provocations'  
 
 
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
Yahoo! Search
Search:
Sign InNew User? Sign Up
News Home -
Help
  
 
 
  
Navigation
Primary Navigation
 
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Secondary Navigation
 
Africa
Europe
Latin America
Middle East
North America
 
Search
 
 
Search:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Russia warns of force if more Georgia 'provocations'
 
 
 
 
 
 
 AFP - 2 hours 33 minutes ago
MOSCOW (AFP) - - Russia on Saturday warned Georgia its military reserves the right to use force if the ex-Soviet state continues "provocations" in the Caucasus, one week ahead of the first anniversary of their 2008 war.
ADVERTISEMENT
 
 
 
 
  
The Russian defence ministry accused Georgia of firing several times with mortars and grenades over the last four days on the capital of its rebel South Ossetia region which is recognised as independent by Russia.
"Such actions seriously worry the Russian defence ministry," the ministry said in a statement on its website.
"If such provocations posing a threat to the population of South Ossetia and the Russian military continue, the defence ministry reserves the right to use all the forces and means at its disposal."
The angry statement came just ahead of the August 7 anniversary of the start of the war, when a Georgian military attempt to retake South Ossetia was rebuffed by Russia. Moscow then sent troops and tanks deep into Georgian territory.
Georgian Interior Ministry spokesman Shota Utiashvili, speaking to AFP in Tbilisi, denied any shooting had taken place.
But the Russian defence ministry described the alleged Georgian actions as an "attempt by the Georgian leadership to inflame the situation in the region."
Ominously, it noted that the "events of August 2008 took place according to an analogous scenario."
Utiashvili described the statement as "very worrisome", saying Russia "may be searching for a pretext" for military action against Georgia.
"We hope the international community will condemn these clearly aggressive actions from the Russians," he said.
Georgia's deputy parliament speaker Mikhail Machavariani told Echo of Moscow radio: "Georgia has absolutely no plans to inflame the situation as we perfectly understand what might happen."
A spokesman for the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) in Georgia, Steve Bird, said monitors had investigated the reports of violations early Saturday but found no evidence of shooting.
The EUMM -- the sole international presence in Georgia's conflict zones after the withdrawal of UN and OSCE observer missions -- has called on all sides to show restraint as the anniversary of the war approaches.
The Brussels-based International Crisis Group warned in a report last month that the withdrawal of OSCE and UN monitors was creating a "potentially explosive situation in which even a small incident could spark new fighting."
Russia and Georgia have repeatedly accused each other of ceasefire violations over the past months but this is the first time Moscow has issued a statement explicitly warning of the use of force.
After the war, Russian forces later mostly withdrew into South Ossetia and another breakaway Georgian region, Abkhazia, but Tbilisi is furious at the continued presence of thousands of Russian troops in both rebel regions.
As well as creating a rupture between Russia and pro-Western Georgia that shows no sign of healing, the war also sent relations between Moscow and Washington to their worst level since the Cold War.
US Vice President Joe Biden visited Georgia last week, backing its territorial integrity and the country's aspirations to join NATO, an idea that has particularly irked Russia.
 
 
 
Email Story
IM Story
Printable View
Blog This
 
 
     
Sign in to recommend this article »
0 users recommend
 
Related Articles: World
Iran confirms 3 Americans arrested near Iraq borderAFP - 2 hours 1 minute ago
Karzai promises Afghan voters a brighter futureAFP - 2 hours 10 minutes ago
Russia warns of force if more Georgia 'provocations'AFP - 2 hours 33 minutes ago
Russia warns Georgia as South Ossetia tension risesReuters - Sunday, August  2
Residents venture out after Nigerian unrestReuters - Sunday, August  2
 
 
 
 
 
 Enlarge Photo
 
Georgian soldiers fire multiple rocket systems during field exercises outside the town of Akhaltsikhe, 250 km west of Tbilisi, earlier this week. Russia has warned Georgia its military reserves the right to use force if the ex-Soviet state continues "provocations" in the Caucasus, one week ahead of the first anniversary of their 2008 war.
 
 
 
Most Popular – World
 
 
 
 
 
 Viewed
 
 
 
 
Comets probably won't cause the end of life as we know it: study
 
 
Organic food not healthier, says British study
 
 
Custody deal agreed for Jackson's children
 
 
Beer flows as Obama tries to cool down a hot furor
 
 
Madonna writes of her spiritual awakening
 
 
View Complete List »
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Search:
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy 
- Terms of Service 
- Community 
- Intellectual Property Rights Policy 
- Help
        
    
   
 
Other News on Saturday,  1 August 2009 29 killed in wave of bombings at Iraq mosques  
Croatia, Slovenia optimistic of resolving border row  
Washington Post stems tide of red ink  
Space shuttle Endeavour lands safely after 16-day mission  
Ten killed as Baghdad Shiite mosques bombed  
Virtual education... for free  
Ex-Soviet states seek to mend rifts in 'Russian NATO'  
Recession end seen as US GDP drop narrows to 1.0 pct  
Britain ends troop presence in Iraq after six years  
Spain on high alert as ETA marks anniversary  
Shuttle Endeavour lands safely after 16-day mission  
Blast at French bell foundry leaves 46 injured  
Madonna writes of her spiritual awakening  
Over 1,000 Afghan civilians killed this year: UN  
Apple fixes iPhone SMS vulnerability
| Technology
|  
Global mobile market bottoms, grows anew: iSuppli
| Technology
|  
Interim Honduran leader says President will not return to power  
Feds seize heroin worth $17 million in California  
Analysis: White House beers a way to change topic  
Ala. ban of wine with nude label is marketing boon  
House acts to improve absentee ballot tracking  
Pakistan eyes $75 bln investment: minister  
Loss-hit Air India to cancel six Boeing planes  
China requests EU talks in fastener trade dispute  
India property giant DLF post 79% fall in profit  
Sri Lanka wants $500 mln to rebuild after war  
Sexist bosses in Italy could face jail: report  
Mixed fortunes for Japan's top banks  
Film The Cove seeks to expose dolphin killings
| Entertainment
|  
Kenya's Kalenjin tribe still on war footing  
Warsaw's 1944 revolt is etched in veteran's memory  
Peter Andre wins libel case over sex claims
| Entertainment
|  
Gay pride march paints Stockholm rainbow-coloured  
France losing foreign tourists  
Australian film festival hit by Chinese boycott in Uighur row  
Cannes-honoured Philippine film gets censors' nod  
Quakers approve gay weddings in Britain  
Organic food not healthier: study  
Foreigners, possibly Americans, missing in Iraq  
Spain condemns ETA, bomb victims mourned  
Cory Aquino dies; Philippine people power heroine
| International
|  
Apple releases software update for iPhone vulnerability  
Saudi Arabia rejects U.S. pleas on Israel  
US on track to pump $2 bln into cash-for-clunkers program  
Bitter Turkey marks 50 years at Europe's door  
Top senator in US health care debate announces cancer  
Honduras leader firm against world pressure
| International
|  
Clinton says no decision to ease Sudan sanctions  
Firefox passes one billion downloads  
Iran starts moderates' trial for post-vote unrest
| International
|  
Amazon sued over deleted Orwell books  
Afghan insurgent attacks leave 17 dead, many hurt  
Bombs kill at least 28 near Baghdad mosques
| International
|  
Space shuttle Endeavour lands safely after 16-day mission  
Turkish navy commandos seize pirates off Somalia  
N.Korea says South Korean boat seized for intrusion
| International
|  
Bombs near Baghdad mosques kill 26  
Iran's Ahmadinejad warns rivals their plans will fail  
Saudi Arabia rejects U.S. pleas on Israel
| International
|  
Clinton says no decision to ease Sudan sanctions
| International
|  
Cory Aquino dies; Philippine people power heroine  
Saudi rebuffs US appeals for israel peace gestures  
Bitter-sweet Ponting proud to make Border crossing  
Yahoo Labs chief sees real-time search opportunity
| Technology
|  
Pakistan court overturns 2007 emergency rule  
FCC seeks details on Google app rejection for iPhone
| Technology
|  
Musharraf trampled constitution-Pakistan court  
China says Xinjiang riot media openness a success  
U.S. health reform gets House boost  
India to assess climate gain and pump millions in forests  
China-based cyber attack hits Australia film festival site
| Technology
|  
U.S. House Democrats "pull together" on health bill  
Unexploded ordnance a lethal problem in Vietnam  
Recession end seen as US GDP drop narrows to 1.0 pct  
Honda recalls 440,000 US vehicles  
India's private airlines threaten stoppage on domestic routes  
WTO takes up China-US dispute over poultry  
Q&A: Juliette Lewis pushes to the limit with new band
| Entertainment
|  
Billboard singles reviews: Brad Paisley, Jay-Z
| Entertainment
|  
In Cuba, Del Toro wins award with Murray on hand  
Escaped Magic ShowTiger Recaptured While Roaming Vegas Streets  
Gwyneth Paltrow Feels "Pure" After Three Weeks Of Detoxing With Pumpkin Seeds, Coconut Water  
Heidi Klum Suffering From Unusual Side Effects During Pregnancy  
Saudi Bank Employees Get Flack For Dance Video  
Top Iran reformer tells trial vote was 'clean'  
Russia warns of force if more Georgia 'provocations'  
FCC asks Apple, AT&T why Google Voice rejection  
100 on trial after Iran post-election riots: report  
Russia to station more troops in Kyrgyzstan: agreement  
Pakistan arrests suspect in Marriott hotel bombing
| International
|  
Iraqis fear al Qaeda violence after mosque bombs
| International
|  
North Korea says South Korean boat seized for intrusion
| International
|  
Residents venture out after Nigerian unrest
| International
|  
French soldier killed in Afghanistan, two wounded
| International
|  
Russia trumps U.S. with new Central Asia army base
| International
|  
Russia's Putin inspects crystals in deepest lake
| International
|  
Bush urges unified warning against North Korea  
Sushi and fresh underpants await landed astronaut  
Obama: stimulus helped 'put brakes' on recession  
Fiji silent on Commonwealth ultimatum  
Gay protests as Australia affirms gay marriage ban  
New Zealanders opt to be knights and dames  
Court Orders Boston University Graduate Student To Pay Nearly $700,000 For Illegal Music Downloads  
S.Korea fishing boat 'illegally intruded': Pyongyang  
Developing: LaGuardia Airport Locks Down Terminal, Detains Suspect In Security Scare  
N.Korea says South Korean boat seized for intrusion  
Defective Airbag Inflator Prompts Recall Of 440,000 Honda Cars  
Bill Would Allow Stockholders To Vote On Pay Limits  
Philippines in 10-day mourning for Aquino  
Honda Recalls 440,000 More Cars For Defective Airbags  
House Rushes To Save Clunkers Program From Early Demise  
Pentagon Hacker's Mom Seeks Obama's Help In Blocking Autistic Son's Extradition, Trial In U.S.  
Obama Meets Philippine Leader At White House  
Obama See Positive Signs In Improved Economic Numbers  
Gay Marriage Opponents In Maine Submit Petition Seeking November Referendum  
SKorea posts sixth straight surplus  
Taiwan, China oil firms to seek undersea reserves  
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro  
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found  
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever  
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production  
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time  
AMD to Start Production of piledriver  
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs  
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia  
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air  
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch  
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent  
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up  
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform  
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis  
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets  
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights