War in the Caucasus

The battle in the Caucasus caps months of tension beween Georgia and Russia, South Ossetian separatists' principal backer [AFP]

By Friday morning, superior firepower had enabled Georgian forces to take over much of South Ossetia [AFP]

Some local residents of Tskhinvali, the de facto capital of South Ossetia, welcomed Georgian troops as they rolled in [Reuters]

Mikheil Saakashvili, Georgia's President (left), said he does not want war in South Ossetia [AFP]

Tanks were crucial to the Georgian army's swift victory over the separatist forces in important towns and villages [AFP]

Russia gave strong warning to Georgia after Tbilisi claimed on Friday that its forced had 'liberated' South Ossetia [AFP]