08 August 2008, 22:52
Kokoity: over 1400 persons fell victims of Georgia's attack on South Ossetia
Tonight, President of the non-recognized republic Eduard Kokoity has reported that over 1400 persons were victims of Georgian troops' attack on South Ossetia.
"A bit more than 1400 persons have perished. The figure will be updated, but its order is like that, we count it on messages from relatives," Mr Kokoity said.
It has become known from representatives of the command of the MPKF (Mixed Peacekeeping Forces) that today in Tskhinvali 12 peacekeepers were killed and 150 wounded by Georgian fire. According to Colonel Igor Konashenkov, Assistant to the Commander-in-Chief of Land Forces, the Georgian armed formations prevent from taking wounded Russian peacekeepers out of Tskhinvali. "Because of Georgian militaries who prevent to evacuate wounded Russian peacekeepers, two of them died," he said to the Interfax.
Earlier, sources in the capital of South Ossetia estimated the count of casualties to be "in thousands" and spoke also about ten killed and some 30 wounded Russian peacekeepers. The hospitals of the capital of North Ossetia have accepted 8 wounded persons from the conflict zone, in total six wounded persons were brought to the territory of North Ossetia.
There are Georgia's victims as well. The Georgian TV Company "Rustavi-2" has informed that the Tbilisi Republic's Hospital has exposed the lists of soldiers wounded during the operations in South Ossetia. Among those wounded who were transported to Tbilisi, there are four minors. 20 other persons from among local residents of the conflict zone were brought to the hospital of the city of Gori.
