War: Russia invades Georgia

In one of the world's long simmering hot spots, the Caucus Mountains on Russia's southern border, things have hit a boiling point today as the nation of Georgia attacked pro-Russia rebels in a break away region of the country known as South Ossetia. A fierce bombardment by the Georgian military on the rebels last night (our time) has been met with instant invasion by Russia, and a defacto state of war between the two countries.

Instead of the invasion causing hostilities to cease, the Russians and Georgians have been engaged in combat, reportedly, with varying reports on the number of troops killed.

The rhetoric is less than encouraging from the Russian side:

A convoy of Russian tanks and troops is reportedly moving toward South Ossetia's capital as Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin declares 'the war has started'.

Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "War started today in South Ossetia when Georgia attacked Russian peacekeepers in the disputed region."

Follow up:

Earlier an official in Georgia's National Security Council said Russia invaded Georgia.

Kakha Lamaia said: "If it's not war, then we are very close to it. The Russians have invaded Georgia and we are under attack."

Georgian President Mikhail Saakasvili told CNN: "Russia is fighting a war with us in our own territory.

"This is a clear intrusion on another country's territory. We have Russian tanks on our territory, jets on our territory in broad daylight."

Saakashvili accused its neighbor of a "well-planned invasion" and called on reservists to sign up for duty. He said "150 Russian tanks, armoured personnel carriers and other vehicles" had entered South Ossetia.

The Georgian government said it will try to protect Russian peacekeepers who were already in the disputed region.

However Russia claims that hundreds of civilians and 10 Russian peacekeepers have been killed.

Reports from Georgia claim Russian jets have attacked an airport near Tblisi.

Nato, the US and the EU are calling for an immediate end to hostilities.

The Olympics are causing quite the convenient distraction at the moment.