Georgia wary of ceasefire announcement

Moscow denied it ever intended to advance on the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, but President Mikhail Saakashvili took no chances. He withdrew troops from the fighting in South Ossetia to defend the city, and called on Georgia’s Western allies to help.

“We want an immediate cessation of hostilities,” the President said. “We want to bring people back to their households and restore their households after they have been destroyed. But one thing should be made very clear: this nation is not going to surrender.”

Witnesses say Russian bombers hit the town of Kaspi this morning, before the announcement from Moscow. Kaspi is a small community located between Gori and Tbilisi, dangerously close to the Georgian capital. Local reports say at least four people were injured, but there has been no confirmation of casualty figures.

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