Georgian troops enter South Ossetian capital

Georgian troops entered Tskhinvali, the besieged capital of the breakaway region of South Ossetia, on Friday after battling separatist forces overnight, Interfax news agency reported.

Interfax quoted its correspondent in the town as saying a heavy battle was raging in the southern part of the town.

“That’s not correct,” Georgian Interior Ministry spokesperson Shota Utiashvili said of the Interfax report.

He said Georgian forces had not yet entered Tskhinvali, but were engaged in a battle with two convoys of trucks that had entered South Ossetia from Russia and were trying to reach the breakaway capital.

“We want to give time to the remaining civilians to leave [the town],” he said . Asked if Georgian forces planned to enter the capital, he said: “If the need arises.” - Reuters