S. Ossetia seeks recognition of genocide

TBILISI, Georgia, Aug. 11 (UPI) -- The breakaway region of South Ossetia will push for international recognition of genocide against its people, republic President Eduard Kokoity said.

Kokoity said Georgian forces have killed at least 2,000 people in the regional capital of Tskhinvali and forced thousands of others from their homes, ITAR-TASS reported Monday. South Ossetia has a population of slightly more than 70,000.

"We'll appeal to all the international organizations to recognize the fact of genocide," Kokoity said on the Vesti news channel. "Such huge losses are irreparable for the small people of South Ossetia. And quite naturally, we'll insist on recognition of our independence (from Georgia)."

Kokoity said almost all Georgian forces have cleared out of Tskhinvali, adding he didn't believe "a single word" Georgia's leadership has spoken about a truce, ITAR-TASS said.

Georgian troops laid siege Thursday to the capital of the breakaway region of South Ossetia. South Ossetia and another breakaway region in Georgia, Abkhazia, have close ties to Russia. Georgia began moving troops toward Tskhinvali a few hours after the South Ossetians agreed to a Russian-mediated cease-fire.

"Although these gunfire posts have been eliminated already, when you speak about a truce you mustn't open gunfire," Kokoity said.