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BILISI, Georgia — Georgia's president on Thursday ordered his country's forces to cease fire in South Ossetia, the separatist region where.
President Mikhail Saakashvili announced the order in a television broadcast in which he also urged South Ossetian separatist leaders to enter talks on resolving the conflict.
In addition, he proposed that Russia could become a guarantor of wide-ranging autonomy for South Ossetia, if the region remains under Georgian control. Russia has close ties with the separatist leadership, and Georgian officials have alleged that Moscow is provoking the recent clashes.
Heavy shelling overnight in South Ossetia killed at least one person and wounded 22, officials said Thursday. It was some of the most severe fighting reported since Aug. 1, when six people were reported killed in firing around the South Ossetian capital, Tskhinvali.
The South Ossetian separatist government said Tskhinvali and nearby areas came under heavy artillery and mortar shelling from Georgian-controlled territory early Thursday, wounding 18 people. But Georgian authorities said they were forced to retaliate when South Ossetian separatist forces started firing on Georgian troops in the area.
One Georgian soldier was killed and four were wounded, Georgian national security council head Alexander Lomaya was quoted as saying by the news agency Interfax.
Eduard Kokoity, South Ossetia's separatist president, warned in comments broadcast by Russia's NTV television that the province's military would drive Georgian forces out of their firing positions near Tskhinvali, if the shelling continued.
Mr. Saakashvili did not set a time limit on the cease fire, which he said he called because “I wanted to have the possibility of proposing to you talks about my peaceful initiative for regulating the conflict.”
Mr. Saakashvili and other Georgian officials repeatedly have alleged that Russia is provoking the recent fighting. Moscow has close ties with the separatist leadership and has granted passports to most residents of South Ossetia.
The proposal for Russia to be a guarantor of wide South Ossetian autonomy could be aimed both at reducing South Ossetian unease at remaining part at Georgia and at allowing Russia to take a higher profile as a peacemaker.
Russia has soldiers in South Ossetia as peacekeeping forces, but Georgia alleges they back the separatists. Russia also was criticized by the West as provoking tensions by sending warplanes in a sortie over South Ossetia last month.
Russia's Foreign Ministry voiced concern about a Georgian military buildup near South Ossetia, saying Thursday it looked like preparations for war. Deputy Foreign Minister Karasin dismissed Georgian claims that Russia was responsible for the fighting.
