Russia invades Georgia! Bush Supports Georgia’s Territorial Integrity!

A Georgian serviceman sits on a tank near the city of Tskhinvali, 62 miles from Tbilisi, August 8, 2008. Photo: Reuters

Fighting Rages On through Friday Night-Invading Russian Troops encounter Stiff Resistance from Defenders

TBLISI, Georgia (CNN) — Georgia’s president said Friday that his country is under attack by Russian tanks and warplanes, and he accused Russia of targeting civilians as tensions over the breakaway Georgian region of South Ossetia appeared to boil over into full-blown conflict.

“All day today, they’ve been bombing Georgia from numerous warplanes and specifically targeting (the) civilian population, and we have scores of wounded and dead among (the) civilian population all around the country,” President Mikhail Saakashvili told CNN in an exclusive interview.

“This is the worst nightmare one can encounter,” he said.

Asked whether Georgia and Russia were now at war, he said, “My country is in self-defense against Russian aggression. Russian troops invaded Georgia.” Watch the interview with Saakashvili »

About 150 Russian armored vehicles have entered South Ossetia, Saakashvili said, and Georgian forces had shot down two Russian aircraft. Watch heavy fighting in this the area »

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov meanwhile said Moscow had received reports that villages in South Ossetia were being ethnically cleansed, according to Reuters.com.

Read Full story HERE.

President Bush and first lady Laura Bush wave during the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at the National Stadium, August 8, 2008. The stadium is also known as the Bird’s Nest. President Bush backs Georgia’s territorial integrity.

Map of Georgia showing the separatist regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Russian tanks and troops have entered Georgia’s breakaway South Ossetia province to repel a Georgian military offensive to reclaim the region amid fighting said to have left hundreds dead.