Published: Monday 11 August 2008 17:03 UTC Last updated: Monday 11 August 2008 17:03 UTC Russian troops have entered Georgia via the breakaway region of Abkhazia and have reached the city of Senaki. Moscow says it is trying to prevent Georgian troops from regrouping to carry out fresh attacks on the Russian army in South Ossetia, another breakaway region.
On Monday, EU mediators tried to broker a cease-fire and Georgian President Michaïl Saakashvili unilaterally signed a cease-fire. Russia, however, refused saying Georgia has continued bombings and artillery attacks in South Ossetia. The G7 countries have urged Russia to sign the agreement. NATO, the US, and the European Union have called on Russia to end hostilities in Georgia. NATO is holding an emergency session on Tuesday. As holder of the presidency of the European Union, French President Nicolas Sarkozy is flying to Moscow and Tbilisi in an attempt to bring the conflict to an end.
The Russians say 2,500 people have been killed in South Ossetia since the conflict began on Friday. The Georgians say they have killed hundreds of Russian soldiers and brought down at least 18 Russian fighter planes.