国际英语新闻：Medvedev: withdrawal of Georgian troops only way to settle South Ossetia crisis

MOSCOW, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- The withdrawal of Georgian troops from the conflict zone of Georgia and its breakaway region of South Ossetia is the only way to settle the "tragic crisis," Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Saturday.

    Human victims "amount to thousands" due to Georgia's actions in South Ossetia, Medvedev said in a telephone conversation with his U.S. counterpart George W. Bush.

Soldiers run near a blazing apartment after a bombardment in the town of Gori, 80 km (50 miles) from Tbilisi, Aug. 9, 2008.

"Under these circumstances, Russia is guided by one task -- to immediately stop violence and defense civilians and restore peace as soon as possible," the Itar-Tass news agency quoted Medvedev assaying.

    "The withdrawal of armed units from the conflict area, compliance with the earlier signed agreements and signing a legally binding agreement on the non-use of force is the unique way to overcome the tragic crisis initiated by the Georgian leadership," he said.

    On a separate occasion, Bush made an appeal for an end to the conflict, while attending the Beijing Olympics.

    He warned of a dangerous escalation and the spread of attacks beyond the zone of conflict, saying the United States and its European allies will seek international mediation.

Smoke is seen over buildings after bombardment in Gori, 80 km (50 miles) from Tbilisi, August 9, 2008.

On Saturday, Georgia's President Mikhail Saakashvili called for an immediate ceasefire in the breakaway province of South Ossetia, proposing "an immediate ceasefire and the beginning of the withdrawal of troops from the contact line."

    The Russian army said on Saturday that it took full control of the provincial capital Tskhinvali from Georgian forces after President Medvedev said that the troops had started a military operation to force Georgian troops to cease fire.

A car passes tanks in Gori, 80 km (50 miles) from Tbilisi, August 9, 2008.

After more than 10 of Russian peacekeepers in South Ossetia were killed amid a Georgian offensive, units of Russia's 58th army left for the region to help its peacekeepers.

    Paratroopers from Russia's Ivanovo, Moscow and Pskov airborne divisions have been sent to Tskhinvali, Medvedev said.

    While Saakashvili urged an immediate truce, Georgia's parliament on Saturday approved a presidential decree imposing a 15-day martial law in the Caucasian country.

    Saakashvili told a meeting of the National Security Council that he decided "to declare martial law in the country in connection with Russian aggression against Georgia."

    The long-standing conflict between Georgia and its breakaway region South Ossetia worsened on Aug. 1-2, when the South Ossetian authorities accused Georgian forces of shelling Tskhinvali.

    Tskhinvali suffered major destruction in the Georgian offensive that began early Friday. Russia said 1,500 people have been killed in the violence, and 30,000 South Ossetians have fled across the border into Russia.

    South Ossetian leader Yury Morozov told Russian TV channel Vesti-24 that thousands of people have been injured, and many residents remain trapped under the rubble of bombed-out buildings, making it difficult to assess the number of fatalities.

    South Ossetia, along with another breakaway republic Abkhazia, broke away from Georgia in the 1990s following the collapse of the Soviet Union. But their self-proclaimed independence has not been internationally recognized.