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Russian deaths will not be tolerated - Medvedev
President Dmitry Medvedev has promised that "Russia will not close its eyes on the deaths of Russian citizens in South Ossetia." Several Russian peacekeepers have been killed in fighting with Georgian forces. Meanwhile, Russian civilians are reported to be taking shelter in basements in the capital Tskhinvali.
"It is my duty as president of the Russian Federation to protect the lives and dignity of Russian citizens, wherever they may be," Medvedev said on Friday.
Marat Kulakhmetov, Commander of the Joint Peacekeeping Forces in the Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone, echoed reports of intensifying Georgian artillery fire aimed at Russian peacekeeping positions.
Yuri Popov, Russia's Co-Chairman of the Joint Control Commission, who is in the conflict zone, earlier told the Itar-Tass news agency, "The headquarters of the peacekeeping forces have been partially destroyed."
The Georgian military claims it has downed a Russian fighter jet over South Ossetia, but the Russian Foreign Ministry on Friday morning denied it had lost any aircraft in the region.
Meanwhile, in Moscow, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is heading a meeting aimed at halting the violence.
The Kremlin press service issued a statement saying the meeting was also focusing on measures to protect the civilian population and Russian citizens in the conflict zone.
Russian peacekeepers, said the statement, “have a mandate…to safeguard Russian interests in the region".
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, currently on a visit to Beijing for the start of the Olympics, warned that Georgia's actions would meet a "response."
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Obey the Cowgod
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