War in Georgia: A roundup

University of Texas

The situation in Georgia is evolving rapidly. Here are some of the latest developments:

• Local authorities are claiming that nearly 1,000 civilians were killed in this morning's military assault. A spokesman for Russia's peacekeeping force in the region says that 10 Russian soldiers have been killed and thirty wounded.
• Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili says that 30 Georgians have been killed by Russian bombing. He also claims that Georgian troops have taken control of Tskhinvali, the South Ossetian capital. According to news agencies, fighting between Georgian and Russian forces is ongoing.
• "War has started," says Vladimir Putin. Georgia agrees.
• Georgia will be withdrawing 1,000 troops from Iraq to participate in the fighting.
• Envoys from the EU, United States, and Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe have been dispatched to negotiate a truce.
• Volunteer fighters from North Ossetia -- officially part of Russia -- are pouring in to help the rebels.
• The Red Cross has called for the opening of a "humanitarian corridor" to allow civilians to evacuate.

Around the blogosphere, Daniel Nexon, Robert Farley, Doug Merril, James Joyner, and Nathan Hodge have all been following this closely.

Watch this space for more.