U.S. Department of State calls for end to violence in South Ossetia

PanARMENIAN.Net - 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."



"We're urging Tbilisi to maintain restraint. We're very concerned about the situation. We call for an immediate end to the violence and for direct talks between the parties," he said at a press briefing in Washington.



Earlier today, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili requested U.S. support in war with Russia.



On the night of August 8, Georgia troops attacked Tskhinvali, seizing several districts of the South Ossetian capital and then 11 surrounding villages.



Commander of combined peacekeeping forces, major general Marat Kulakhmetov said that South Ossetian capital, Tskhinvali, has been nearly destroyed.



"Gunfire has been suspended. Tskhinvali is enveloped in fires," Interfax's correspondent reported from the site.



Meanwhile, according to some sources, Russian armored vehicles entered the city.



Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said 150 Russian tanks and armored personnel carriers entered South Ossetia.