This Morning's Propaganda

Just a quick one, though they often start out that way. I will have much more interesting information out after a good chat with my boss when she gets in.

Looking at the international agencies, not a huge amount seems to have happened since I reported last night. Though the situation moves quickly and who knows what can happen in the time it takes to write a post.

Update

I can dispell the rumours that Russian jets bombed Tbilisi's civilian airport, despite the BBC running with the story last night news agencies (and the MFA) have changed their story.

In an interesting U-Turn on the issue Georgian Minister Temur Yakobashvili denied the airport had been hit in an interview with the Israeli Haaretz newservice.

Despite this many information sources are still running the story.

I somehow doubt the Russians would bomb a civilian airport hours before Bernard Kouchner could land there as he arrives for talks aimed at ending the fighting. The Russians are behaving very aggressively but with any luck they're not on a mission to start WW3.

Further bombing did however take place last night. Georgian Interior Ministry spokesman Shota Utiashvili told Reuters that Russian jets hit a military base and radar installation outside of Tbilisi.

Friends reported hearing explosions from the city centre and we've all heard jets flying overhead throughout yesterday and today (there goes one now).

The Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs published a panic inducing post on its blog this morning. Claiming Tbilisi, Ajara and Poti are all being intensively bombed and police in Zugdidi have been told to give up their arms by Russian peacekeepers.

Georgian chat is also awash with talk of Russian troops advancing towards Gori.

The extent of truth in these reports and rumours remains to be seen. We've had some very dubious reports from the MFA recently (they first reported the Airport bombing) and the hysteria amongst the Georgian population is at such a high level stories like "the Russians have taken Gori" are inevitable.

I will endeavour to find out if there are any grains of truth in these stories and report back after work.

Another myth some agencies are now rightly rushing to dispel (as the price of oil climbs on the tensions) is that the BTC Pipeline has been hit. BP deny all knowledge.

Good News

My boss literally just got into work, as did Muradi who I'd been told had been called. It turns out a lot of the reservists have been sent home, including my other friend I knew to be drafted, Eka's brother Beka!

I'm incredibly happy about this as you can imagine.