Security measures tightened in zone of Georgian-Ossetian conflict

VLADIKAVKAZ, August 2 (Itar-Tass) - The command of the joint
peacekeeping force in the zone of the Georgia-South Ossetian conflict has set up a temporary observation post between Georgian and Abkhazian
villages.

"In connection with increased facts of violation of the ceasefire
agreement by the sides, the peacekeeping troops of the Russian motor rifle
battalion have set up a temporary observation post between the Ossetian
village of Andisi and the Georgian Tsveri," said Vladimir Ivanov, the
deputy commander of the joint peacekeeping force.

Ivanov said that the command of the joint peacekeeping force had
informed the co-chairmen of the Mixed Control Commission of the parties
involved in the conflict and the OSCE mission in Georgia.
Five South Ossetian residents and a peacekeeper from a North
Ossetian battalion of the joint peacekeeping force were killed as a result
of a Georgian fire attack on Tskhinvali and South Ossetian villages in the
zone of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict. Another seven people were
wounded. The shooting broke out at 21:00 Moscow time on Friday.
Yuri Morozov, the head of government of the unrecognised republic, had
held an emergency meeting with the leaders of the republic's military and
law enforcement agencies to discuss how to provide security for the
republic's residents.
"Our citizens should feel calm but it's not easy under sniper and
mortar fire. But they should know that the republic is protecting them,"
Morozov went on to say. He added that the Ossetian side intended to give
a strong rebuff to Georgia that has launched a sniper war against South
Ossetia.
However, Georgia accused South Ossetia of opening fire at Georgian
police posts and the posts of the Georgian peacekeeping battalion in the
zone of the Georgian-South Ossetian conflict.
General Mamuka Kurashvili, the chief of staff for peacekeeping
operations at the united headquarters of the Georgian armed forces, and
Shota Utiashvili, the head of the information and analytical department of
the Georgian Interior Ministry, told reporters on Friday that the Georgian
side hadn't opened fire at South Ossetian police checkpoints or Tskhinvali.
"The South Ossetian armed units opened intensive fire from various
types of weapons and from different places at Georgian police checkpoints
and the posts of the Georgian peacekeeping battalion located near the
villages of Sarabuki, Nikozi, Eredvi, Avnevi, etc," General Kurashvili and
Shota Utiashvili told reporters. They noted that the Georgian side was
forced to return fire at the places of location of the South Ossetian
armed units.
Both described as false assertions that Georgia is being amassing
troops in the conflict zone.
"No reinforcement of the Georgian forces has taken place in the
conflict zone, the Georgian peacekeeping battalion of the joint
peacekeeping force and the servicemen of the local Georgian police
department are on duty there," General Kurashvili and Shota Utiashvili
said.
Georgia controls half of the South Ossetian territory, the other half
is under the control of the Tskhinvali authorities. Georgian policemen are
on duty in the Georgian villages while Tskhinvali policemen patrol the
Ossetian villages.