S.Ossetian Leader Refuses Talks after Reported Clash
South Ossetian leader Eduard Kokoity has refused to hold talks with the Georgian side, accusing authorities in Tbilisi of ?state terrorism,? Interfax news agency reported on October 31.
?I confirm that a Georgian squad of saboteurs consisting of four men was destroyed in the Java district of South Ossetia today. The [group] was plotting sabotages and terrorist acts on the eve of independence referendum in South Ossetia [on November 12] and it was also planning sabotages against major transportation infrastructure linking South Ossetia with Russia,? Eduard Kokoity told Interfax news agency.
The South Ossetian side reported that its militiamen clashed with the Georgian armed group near the village of Sinaguri in the north of South Ossetia at about 7 am (Tbilisi time) on October 31. The Georgian side has not yet confirmed the report.
On October 30 Kokoity said that he was ready to meet President Saakashvili in a ?third country? on the condition that an agreement on the non-use of force would be signed. Earlier, the Georgian side offered to hold high-level talks in Georgia?s ski resort of Bakuriani.
This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)