DUSHANBE, August 8, 2008, Asia-Plus – Russian President Dmitry Medvedev will chair an emergency meeting of the national Security Council in the next few hours to discuss the situation in Georgia”s breakaway region of South Ossetia, the president”s spokesperson said on Friday.
Georgia launched a full-scale attack on its breakaway republic of S. Ossetia overnight, using tanks, combat aircraft, heavy artillery and infantry. Georgia said it had captured most of its breakaway republic and called on the separatist authorities to surrender.
“The Security Council will consider as soon as possible proposals to settle the situation in the region,” Natalia Timakova said.
South Ossetia said at least 15 civilians had been killed so far and Russian peacekeepers said Georgia had shelled their positions, wounding several Russian servicemen.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who is currently in Beijing, warned that Georgian aggression against its breakaway region will provoke a “response”.
“The situation is very sad. It raises concerns and will certainly incur response,” Putin said.
Russia”s UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin called on the UN Security Council to intervene to stop violence in the region, but the council failed on Friday to reach an agreement on a Russian-drafted statement.
Several Russian lawmakers on Friday called for military action against Tbilisi in response to Georgia”s aggression.
