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Georgian, Russian Troops Clash in South Ossetia
![[MAP: South Ossetia, Georgia]](http://media3.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/graphic/2008/08/08/GR2008080802181.gif)
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There were reports from Tskhinvali that civilians were huddling in cellars to shelter from the shelling. Boris Chochiyev, a minister in the South Ossetian government, which is not recognized internationally, said that shells caused extensive damage in the center of Tskhinvali. Electricity was out in much of the city and humanitarian organizations said hospitals were struggling to cope with the wounded.
Officials in the separatist government said at least 15 people had been killed Friday. Civilians from South Ossetia were flooding to the border with Russia, according to news reports here.
Russian media reported that paramilitaries were also streaming across the border from Russia, including from North Ossetia, a Russian republic that shares ethnic ties with the South Ossetians.
The U.N. Security Council held an emergency meeting early Friday, but failed to back a statement drafted by Russia that would have called on both Georgia and the South Ossetians to "renounce the use of force." The United States and Britain supported Georgia's objections to the wording of the statement.
"We think that this is a very serious error of judgment and political blunder," said Vitaly Churkin, Russia's ambassador to the United Nations. "I hope that the Georgian side will reconsider its reckless actions in the area of the Georgia-South Ossetian conflict."
Staff writer William Branigin in Washington contributed to this report.
