Georgia invades South Ossetia

Right now Georgian forces are laying siege to Tskhinvali, the capital of South Ossetia. According to Georgia's president most of the separatist region is already under their control. However Abkhazia is sending troops to its border with Georgia and sending some 1,000 volunteers to South Ossetia to join volunteers from North Ossetia. This concern has lead to a stern warning from Georgia:

"We hope that the Abkhaz separaists will not undertake any steps that would compound the situation," Interfax news agency quoted Georgian Reintegration Minister Temur Iakobashvili as saying.

"We count on the Abkhazians not adding to problems in the region that could be deplorable for everybody," he said.

At the same time Georgia has a concern with Russia which has reportedly bombed a Georgian police post and sent troops into South Ossetia who clashed with Georgian forces outside Tskhinvali. Particularly disconcerting for Georgia would be a statement issued by the Russian Defense Ministry:

"The Georgian leadership has unleashed a dirty adventure," the ministry statement posted on its web site www.mil.ru said. "Blood spilled in South Ossetia will be blamed on these people and their associates. We will not allow our peacekeepers and citizens of the Russian Federation to be hurt."

It's possible Russia is already responding by sending in heavy armor. Russia is likely to take action alongside Abkhazia in response to Georgia's invasion.