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Violence Flares In South Ossetia

15 August 2004 -- Sporadic gunfire occurred overnight in Georgia's disputed South Ossetia region despite a cease-fire agreement.

Georgian Defense Minister Georgi Baramidze said that mortars were fired at his motorcade in the region. He said he ordered return fire, and that he's "sure there were some wounded on the Ossetian side."

There was no immediate confirmation from South Ossetian officials.

Meanwhile, other clashes occurred in the region, with several Georgian soldiers reported wounded. Details concerning the violence are sketchy.

A sniper attack yesterday wounded a Georgian soldier in the region, hours after the two sides agreed to a cease-fire.

Earlier, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov rejected Georgian accusations that Russian peacekeepers are taking South Ossetia's side in the conflict.

(AP/AFP/Reuters/dpa)

Copyright (c) 2004. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org