Fighting has broken out between Russia and the former Soviet state of Georgia. "Georgian troops launched a major military offensive Friday to regain control over the breakaway province of South Ossetia, prompting a furious response from Russia which vowed retaliation and sent a column of tanks into the region," reported Yahoo News in an Associated Press piece. The article notes that "Georgia, which borders the Black Sea between Turkey and Russia, was ruled by Moscow for most of the two centuries preceding the breakup of the Soviet Union."

The BBC reports that "Georgia is reported to have said any involvement of Russian forces in the conflict will result in a state of war between the two countries. Russia says it is sending reinforcements to support peacekeepers. Reports from Georgia claim Russian jets have attacked an airport near Tbilisi. Nato, the US and the EU have all called for an immediate end to hostilities."

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