BBC – Violence Flares in Georgian Town Gori

Violence has flared up in Georgia, where Russian tanks have been seen patrolling the town of Gori, the BBC reports.

According to the BBC, Russia has denied reports that a convoy of its vehicles seen on the road to the Georgian capital is heading there. People leaving Gori say there is looting going on involving South Ossetian separatists.

The BBC’s correspondent reports that in the South Ossetian capital, Tskhinvali, many buildings have been totally destroyed.

A ceasefire is in place, but it seems to be very fragile, correspondents say.

In Gori, the Russian tanks seem to be dismantling and destroying Georgian army bases in the town, the BBC correspondent says.

In Gori, there are reports of residents being stripped of their belongings at gunpoint at the entrances to the city.

A pall of smoke hangs over Gori’s market, but it is not clear if any more fighting has been going on in the town. Terrified residents have watched their houses being torched, and the situation may well be worse in outlying villages.

There is also a Russian checkpoint with two Russian tanks outside Gori on the main road leading into the town from the Georgian capital Tbilisi, an eyewitness told the BBC.

But the Russian foreign ministry says it has no Russian troops left in Gori, Reuters news agency reports.

On Tuesday, Russian forces said their military activity in the area was completed after Georgian security forces were driven out of the town during fighting.