Thursday 14 August
A tense stand-off has developed on the edge of Gori. The Russians were expected to pull out and hand control back to the Georgians, but it appears the deal has been sunk by South Ossetian irregulars who demanded to control policing in the town. This was unacceptable to the Georgian delegation handling negotiations and they’ve stormed out.
To try to talk their way into town, the Georgians dispatched their special forces but the Russians fearing they were about to be attacked moved their tanks up. For a few tense minutes both sides stared each other down with guns drawn. Now at the edge of Gori there are five Russian tanks, their guns pointed at the Georgians just a few kilometres away.
We’re suddenly aware of a man in uniform who has had too much to drink and is brandishing a gun. He’s ordering the journalists to leave the area, and when they don’t move fast enough, he fires two shots in the air. It sends the press scattering, racing for their cars. A number of explosions follow, far enough away not to be a danger, close enough to be a concern. It’s a sign how close to the surface emotions are running.
INBOX
Islay McLeod’s
Scotland
Net losses: my day with the fishermen
[click here]
Kenneth Roy’s
Week
For the BBC, ping-pong is now the priority
[click here]
Alan Fisher’s World
No-one here thinks the war is over
[click here]
Young Scotland
Programme
promoting
intellectual development
Scottish
Academy of Merit
recognising outstanding achievement
Young Scot of
the Year
encouraging outstanding
promise
