Russia attacks Georgia

The armed conflict between Russia and Georgia deals a blow to U.S. aspirations of bringing the former Soviet republic into NATO's orbit and securing an emerging energy corridor linking Central Asia to Europe.

Russian tanks pushed into the separatist South Ossetia region and by morning, reinforcements backed by bombers and artillery had arrived at the outskirts of the South Ossetian capital, Tskhinvali. The Russian death toll rose to 15 overnight, with more than 70 wounded.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said the fighting was a response to Georgia's assault on Russian citizens and the peacekeepers Russia has had in the disputed region since the early 1990s. Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili called it a ``well-planned invasion'' and appealed for international help. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said, ``War has started.''