Powell, Lavrov Discuss South Ossetia

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held phone conversations on July 9 to discuss the current crisis in Georgia?s breakaway South Ossetia.

In a press release issued after the talks, the Russian Foreign Ministry said, ?both [Powell and Lavrov] reiterated support towards preservation of Georgia?s territorial integrity and resolution of the crisis through peaceful means.?

On July 8, the U.S. State Department condemned 8 the detention of Georgian peacekeepers by the South Ossetian authorities.  The Georgian soldiers were released on July 9.