Georgia, South Ossetia Trade Accusations Of Violence

11 July 2004 -- Georgian and separatist South Ossetian authorities are trading new accusations of violence in South Ossetia as officials from both sides try to ease tensions with diplomacy.

Yesterday, three Georgian troops and a civilian were wounded when the village of Ardvisi came under grenade and automatic-weapons fire.

South Ossetian government spokeswoman Irina Gagloeva today said that a South Ossetian police station came under fire overnight from the direction of an ethnic Georgian village.

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili says a conflict in South Ossetia would be a conflict between Georgia and Russia.

Russia doesn't formally recognize South Ossetia's government, but about 80 percent of South Ossetians hold Russian passports.

A Russian envoy, Lev Mironov, is due today in South Ossetia's capital Tskhinvali amid the rising tensions.

(ITAR-TASS/AFP/AP)