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Russia expands bombing blitz in Georgia

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-08-10 18:58

Russia also has sent a naval squadron to blockade Georgia's Black Sea coast to prevent weapons from landing by sea,  the Interfax news agency reported.

The Black Sea Fleet comprises missile cruiser Moskva, patrol boat Smetlivy, three large amphibious ships and logistics ships, the report said.

Meanwhile, the Abkhaz law enforcement agencies confirmed that several Georgian warships attempted on Saturday to approach the coast of Abkhazia. But the attempts were curbed by ships of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.

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An Interfax source said a sea blockade of Georgia will help avoid an escalation of combat operations in Abkhazia.

Lomaia, the Georgian security chief, confirmed that Russia has imposed what he called an "illegal blockade" on Georgia and turned back several ships with "humanitarian supplies".

Lomaia said that Russians also raided a Georgian military facility in the Zugdidi region just south of Abkhazia, inflicting no casualties.

According to Lomaia, Georgia has shot down 10 Russian planes, including four brought down Saturday. It also claimed to have captured two Russian pilots, who were shown on Georgian television.

Russian Col. Gen. Anatoly Nogovitsyn, deputy chief of the General Staff, confirmed that two Russian planes had been shot down, but did not say where or when.

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