Russian tanks invade breakaway region
Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2008 8:38 am
Story Highlights
NEW: Georgia says it has shot down two Russian aircraft
Russian TV shows tanks and troops moving towards Georgia
Russian authorities said several of its peacekeepers died in a Georgian attack
Vladimir Putin warned Russia would respond to Georgia's actions
TBLISI, Georgia (CNN) -- Georgia's president said Friday that his country is under attack from Russian tanks and warplanes, and he accused Russia of targeting civilian populations as tensions over the breakway Georgian region of South Ossetia appeared to boil over into full-blown conflict.
Russia's Channel 1 shows heavy tanks purported to be on their way to South Ossetia.
1 of 3 "All day today they've been bombing Georgia from numerous warplanes and specifically targeting (the) civilian population, and we have scores of wounded and dead among (the) civilian population all around the country," Mikhail Saakashvili told CNN in an exclusive interview.
Saakashvili also said Georgian troops had shot down two Russian aircraft.
Asked whether Georgia and Russia were now at war, he said, "My country is in self-defense against Russian aggression. Russian troops invaded Georgia."
NEW: Georgia says it has shot down two Russian aircraft
Russian TV shows tanks and troops moving towards Georgia
Russian authorities said several of its peacekeepers died in a Georgian attack
Vladimir Putin warned Russia would respond to Georgia's actions
TBLISI, Georgia (CNN) -- Georgia's president said Friday that his country is under attack from Russian tanks and warplanes, and he accused Russia of targeting civilian populations as tensions over the breakway Georgian region of South Ossetia appeared to boil over into full-blown conflict.
Russia's Channel 1 shows heavy tanks purported to be on their way to South Ossetia.
1 of 3 "All day today they've been bombing Georgia from numerous warplanes and specifically targeting (the) civilian population, and we have scores of wounded and dead among (the) civilian population all around the country," Mikhail Saakashvili told CNN in an exclusive interview.
Saakashvili also said Georgian troops had shot down two Russian aircraft.
Asked whether Georgia and Russia were now at war, he said, "My country is in self-defense against Russian aggression. Russian troops invaded Georgia."