S.Ossetian Reports: 3 Die in Clash

Three South Ossetian militia fighters died in a clash with Georgian troops in the South Ossetian conflict zone on September 8, the South Ossetian Press and Information Committee reported.

According to the report a car carrying servicemen from the Georgian Interior Ministry?s special purpose unit approached a checkpoint manned by South Ossetian Interior Ministry troops and opened fire. The incident occurred between the Ossetian village of Tbeti and the Georgian village of Nikozi to the south-east of the breakaway region?s capital Tskhinvali

Georgian officer was killed by return fire, according to the South Ossetian Press and Information Committee.

The Georgian side has also confirmed the death of one officer. Two other officers were hospitalized with no life-threatening injuries, according to Shida Kartli Governor Mikheil Kareli. Shida Kartli is the region of Georgia that officially also incorporates part of the unrecognized republic?s territory.

Maj. Gen. Marat Kulakhmetov, Commander of the Joint Peacekeeping Forces in the conflict zone, told Rustavi 2 television via phone that three South Ossetian militia fighters and one Georgian officer died.

Georgian officials said that the Georgian Interior Ministry?s car, which was ?on an anti-smuggling mission? in the area, was attacked near the village of Nikozi.

?This is yet another provocation masterminded by the South Ossetian and Russian sides. We should expect more provocations of this kind,? Kareli told reporters.
 
The South Ossetian Press and Information Committee also reported on September 8 that the Georgian side has installed six Grad multiple-launch rocket systems in the village of Akhaldaba in the Gori district. No independent confirmation of the report is available.

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