South Ossetia eyeing Russian merger

MOSCOW, Aug. 29 (UPI) -- South Ossetia may merge with Russia following a major military conflict involving Georgia, an official says.

South Ossetia Parliamentary Speaker Znaur Gassiyev said talks this week in Moscow between Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and South Ossetian President Eduard Kokoity could lead to a merger within a few years time, The (Britain) Telegraph said Friday.

Deputy Speaker Tarzan Kokoiti echoed Gassiyev's comments, saying the breakaway region would soon join with Russia to form a "united Russian state."

"We will live in one united Russian state," Kokoiti said.

The Telegraph said the potential merger would essentially be a mere formality for Russia, which has effectively controlled the republic since its inception during the 1990s.