Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Meets with South Ossetian Leader

First Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia Valeri Loshchinin met with de facto President of self-styled South Ossetian Republic Eduard Kokoev on July 30  in Moscow, amid conflicting reports over shellings in the conflict zone.

According to the Russian Foreign Ministry?s press release, Valeri Loshchinin expressed concern over the escalation of tensions in the conflict zone.

?Provocative actions by the Georgian forces in the conflict zone destabilizes the situation not only in South Ossetia, but in the entire region as well. Russia can not remain indifferent towards the protection of Russian citizens? rights, living in South Ossetia,? the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister said.

He called for the Georgian and South Ossetian sides to immediately resume talks in order to defuse tensions in the breakaway region.

On July 30 the South Ossetian side accused Georgian forces of shelling suburbs of Tskhinvali, capital of the self-styled republic over the night. Reports from South Ossetia say at least two civilians were wounded during the shellings.

Svyatoslav Nabzdorov, commander of the Russian peacekeeping troops stationed in the conflict zone, told Itar-Tass news agency that Tskhinvali ?came under intensive fire.?

Meanwhile, the Georgian side denied these reports and accused the South Ossetians of opening fire on the Georgian village of Tamarasheni, near Tskhinvali. No casualties were reported during that incident.