Residents of Tskhinvali come out of the basement where they were hiding from Georgian shelling.

The U.S. Department of State's acting deputy spokesman, Gonzalo R. Gallegos, said Washington is "urging Moscow to press South Ossetia's de facto leaders to stop firing."

"Armenian citizens in Georgia will be rendered essential support in case they wish to return to homeland," the RA Foreign Ministry said.

"Georgia will withdraw its unit from Iraq to give a proper response to Russian aggression," Saakashvili said.

Alexander Stubb: the international community needs to act together to prevent a full-fledged war.

Marsel Petrossian: A reasonable question arises in this connection: why is Nargiztepe settlement being built just in the Arami desert, 2-3 km from the contact-line, an area, which, according to the Azerbaijani side, is permanently fired at and is not absolutely adapted for habitation?

Alexander Lomaia: if it's true that Russian troops and armaments have been sent to Georgia, it means that we are in a state of war with Russia.

Presently, several Turkish journalists are working for Agos.