The fighting has forced thousands of South Ossetians to flee. Many of them hold Russian passports, and look towards Moscow for help. Fear and bewilderment is etched on every face as they prepare to see out the war in a refugee camp at Alagher in North Ossetia. While Russian reinforcements head towards Tskhinvali, thousands of frightened people are on the move in the other direction.

Other people are heading into Georgia. Reports from Gori, in Georgia but near the South Ossetian border, say 80 percent of the town’s population has fled, fearing Russian ground forces will invade. Moscow denies any intention of crossing into Georgia.

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