GEORGIA, S. OSSETIA: SITUATION NORMALIZED
"The situation is calm now. But radical measures are being taken rapidly to avoid an escalation of tensions," he said. None of the peacekeepers was injured during last night's shootouts in Tskhinvali, Nabzdorov said. "Both Georgian and South Ossetian units were involved in the exchange of fire," he said. Specific proposals for restoring order in the region have already been drawn up, he said, adding that "they envision increasing the number of posts and a number of other measures. I will present them to Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania today."
South Ossetia is legally a province of Georgia, but a conflict in the 1990s led to its de facto independence. Tensions between Tbilisi and Tskhinvali have escalated in recent weeks, as Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has stepped up efforts to restore control over South Ossetia.
The peacekeeping forces deployed in the conflict zone include Russian, Georgian and South Ossetian battalions of 500 servicemen each. They were deployed in 1992, and are serving at 12 outposts in the area.
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