GEORGIA yesterday called for an independent inquiry into who started the war between it and Russia in August amid claims by the Kremlin that western media now see Georgia as the aggressor.
Georgia’s ambassador to the UN, Irakli Alasania, asked the EU on Monday to carry out a “very thorough” international investigation into the five-day conflict. Georgia was willing to provide “all” information, including “classified material”, to show that it was not to blame, he said.
The move follows doubts raised by the New York Times and the BBC about Georgia’s claim that its attack on South Ossetia on August 7th and 8th was in response to aggression. The paper quoted military observers in the breakaway region who said they were unable to verify claims that Georgian villages had come under heavy attack prior to August 7th. – (Guardian Service)