South Ossetian authorities in 'full control' of border with Georgia

5 Jul, 2008 02:36 / Updated 16 years ago

South Ossetian authorities say they are in full control of the situation at the de-facto border with Georgia. The republic has suspended the military mobilisation it declared following attacks on Friday.

At least one person died and three others were wounded during heavy artillery fire early on Friday morning. Georgia claims it was responding to an attack from the breakaway region. Tension is not uncommon in the conflict zone between Georgia and South Ossetia. The region declared independence from Tbilisi in the early 1990s and a violent conflict ensued. Since then, peacekeepers from a joint control commission have been stationed in the region. To date, the breakaway republic hasn't been recognised internationally.