S.Ossetia Says One Injured in Shootout

A female resident of Tskhinvali was slightly injured as a result of ?intense fire? which erupted in the conflict zone on the evening of September 26, the South Ossetian Press and Information Committee reported.

The shootout, which reportedly also involved mortars and artillery, has also been confirmed by the Georgian side, which blamed the South Ossetians for starting it.

The South Ossetian secessionist authorities said explosions were heard across Tskhinvali, but the focus was the southern suburbs of the city. The Georgian side accused South Ossetian forces of targeting the Georgian-controlled villages of Nikozi and Ergneti.

The incident reportedly erupted at about 8:30 pm local time and lasted about an hour.

South Ossetian secessionist leader Eduard Kokoity initially ordered the deployment of heavy armor in Tskhinvali, but canceled the order with the cessation of fire, the South Ossetian Press and Information Committee reported.

The shootout comes amid the visit to Georgia of the chief Russian negotiator on South Ossetia, Yuri Popov. On September 26 he held talks in Tbilisi with Georgian officials and is due to hold a meeting in Tskhinvali on September 27. His purpose is to arrange a plenary session of the Joint Control Commission (JCC), a negotiating body, in Tbilisi sometime in October.

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