Explosion Kills Two In South Ossetia

(RFE/RL) July 14, 2006 -- Two people were killed and two injured today when a homemade bomb exploded in Tskhinvali -- the main city of Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia.

Irina Gagloyeva, a spokeswoman for the region's unrecognized government, said the homemade device was packed with nails and metal balls. It exploded at about 9 a.m. local time near an apartment building where a military commander lives.


(AP)

Universal Principles?

Universal Principles?

President Putin at a Kremlin meeting in April (epa)

PUTIN SPEAKS OUT: During a January press conference, Russian President Vladimir Putin said there is a need for "universal principles" to settle "frozen" conflicts in the CIS. His comments came against the background of impending talks on the future status of Kosovo, which many predict will grant it a form of "conditional independence" from Serbia and Montenegro. As an ally of Serbia, Moscow has consistently opposed the idea of Kosovar independence. Putin's remarks suggest he may be shifting his position, but only if the principles applied to Kosovo are also applied to frozen conflicts in the former Soviet Union. If Kosovo can be granted full independence, he asked, why should we deny the same to Abkhazia and South Ossetia? (more)


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