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Russians Cut Georgia in Half

Georgian civilians flee from warplanes

By the Associated Press

Posted Aug 11, 2008 5:08 PM CDT
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(AP) – Russian forces seized several towns and a military base deep in western Georgia today and captured the main east-west highway near Gori, effectively cutting the country in half, Georgia's president said. Fighting also raged around Tskhinvali, the capital of the separatist province of South Ossetia. Russian warplanes launched new air raids across Georgia, with at least one sending screaming civilians running for cover, the AP reports.

The reported capture of the key Georgian city of Gori and the towns of Senaki, Zugdidi, and Kurga came despite a top Russian general's claim earlier today that Russia had no plans to enter Georgian territory. By taking Gori, which sits on Georgia's only east-west highway, Russia can cut off eastern Georgia from the country's western Black Sea coast.

Bodyguards escort Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili, center, to shelter under a threat of Russian air attack in Gori, Georgia, Monday, Aug. 11, 2008.
Bodyguards escort Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili, center, to shelter under a threat of Russian air attack in Gori, Georgia, Monday, Aug. 11, 2008.   (SERGEI GRITS)
An unidentified Georgian woman cries after finding out that her child was killed in a neighboring village, in the town of Gori, Georgia, just outside the breakaway province of South Ossetia, Monday.
An unidentified Georgian woman cries after finding out that her child was killed in a neighboring village, in the town of Gori, Georgia, just outside the breakaway province of South Ossetia, Monday.   (SERGEI GRITS)
Emergency personnel at work in front of buildings destroyed in an air raid in the village of Tkviavi, Georgia, Monday, Aug. 11, 2008.
Emergency personnel at work in front of buildings destroyed in an air raid in the village of Tkviavi, Georgia, Monday, Aug. 11, 2008.   (David Nowak)
Russian troops leave armored vehicles and trucks near the village of Khurcha in Georgia's breakaway province of Abkhazia, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2008, heading toward the border with Georgia.
Russian troops leave armored vehicles and trucks near the village of Khurcha in Georgia's breakaway province of Abkhazia, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2008, heading toward the border with Georgia.   (Vladimir Popov)
An unidentified crying Georgian woman is calmed by her husband after finding out that her child was killed in a neighboring village, in the town of Gori, Georgia.
An unidentified crying Georgian woman is calmed by her husband after finding out that her child was killed in a neighboring village, in the town of Gori, Georgia.   (SERGEI GRITS)
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Copyright 2012 Newser, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. AP contributed to this report.

 
Russia • Europe • Georgia • South Ossetia • Gori

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