Posted on 07/19/2004 2:07:00 PM PDT by joan
Clashes have been reported between Georgian troops and separatist forces in the country's breakaway South Ossetia region.
Georgian television reported intense shooting near the front line on Sunday.
The territory has seen growing tension recently, with fears of a return to the civil war of the early 1990s.
But earlier this month Russia, Georgia and South Ossetia agreed not to use force to try to end their simmering territorial conflict.
Tensions were raised earlier this month when Georgian troops detained a convoy of Russian peacekeeping vehicles they claimed were smuggling arms to the region, while separatists held a group of Georgian soldiers hostage for 24 hours.
South Ossetia split from the rest of Georgia during a civil war at the end of the Soviet era and now wants to join Russia.
The BBC's Chloe Arnold says a fragile peace held for 12 years, but tensions flared when the new Georgian President, Mikhail Saakashvili, pledged to reunite his fractured country.
He said he would bring South Ossetia and Abkhazia, another breakaway region, back under central authority.
The United States has appealed to all sides for calm.
Washington is backing the construction of a multi-billion dollar oil pipeline in the volatile region.
Egans!...I've become dizzy, trying to find these "New" Countries/"Breakaway" Providences...and I'm very good @ Geography.
Think,.... 'klans/clans',......'Chicago style'.......'lords/gangs'.......street gangs.....etc
HA! Sota like what Bubba & Bubbette had going in AR. in the late 70s thru the 80s...a very profitable criminal enterprise. :))
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.