The Georgian War: Hundreds of Russian Troops Moving Towards Tbilisi – Russians Burning Homes and Looting
by John Little on 13/08/2008Apparently, the Russians are supposed to turn off the road to Tbilisi and head towards an abandoned Georgian military base:
A convoy of Russian armored personnel carriers was heading deeper into Georgia Wednesday on a road that leads from Gori to Tbilisi, CNN Correspondent Matthew Chance reported.
Chance, on the road with the Russian column, said it was moving slowly south from Gori.
He said there were hundreds of men in personnel carriers.
CNN has been told by Georgian officials that the convoy would turn off the road to Tbilisi toward an abandoned Georgian military base.
The convoy was located well outside the mandated area for Russian peacekeepers in South Ossetia.
Georgia and Russia have accused each other of violating a cease-fire only 24 hours after it was agreed.
An AFP report sounds raises serious doubts about Russia’s intentions:
Separatist fighters and Russian troops looted and set homes ablaze in Georgian territory on Wednesday amid fears over a fragile ceasefire that ended five days of bitter conflict.
Despite a French-brokered truce agreed on Tuesday by the leaders of the two countries, Russia faced mounting criticism in the West.
Russian armoured vehicles patrolled the flashpoint town of Gori and about 60 tanks, armoured personnel carriers and other vehicles were seen on the road from Gori to the Georgian capital, 75 kilometers away.
An AFP reporter saw Russian troops shouting: “Tbilisi, Tbilisi”.
Western powers have a mess on their hands as it is. If Russia completely ignores the six-point plan and takes Tbilisi the whole game changes.
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