World News Story

21 November 2008 09:22 BST

Georgia timeline

Day-by-day updates on the situation in Georgia, as Russia continues to raise the diplomatic states over the future of its breakaway provinces.

Thursday August 7th: After a tentative ceasefire agreement made only hours earlier Georgian forces pounced against South Ossetian separatists. They shelled the South Ossetian capital Tskhinvali, surrounded it with tanks and conducted air strikes.

Friday August 8th: Russia responded by rolling a convoy of tanks into the region. They quickly reinforced existing peacekeepers on the ground, pouring troops and armour across the border into South Ossetia.

Saturday August 9th: Russian reinforcements led to fierce fighting as the capital changed hands. Georgia's parliament approved a presidential decree declaring a state of war for the next 15 days, while Russian jets began their raids on the Georgian border town of Gori. An estimated 30,000 people were claimed to have been displaced.

Sunday August 10th: Fighting continued as the Russians consolidated their hold over all of South Ossetia. Abkhazia, another separatist province, announced it was opening a "second front" against Tbilisi. Russian planes began bombing the Georgian capital. Georgian forces shelled Tskhinvali.

Monday August 11th: Still no sign of an end to the conflict, but the relative positions appeared to have consolidated. Mr Saakashvili claimed a ceasefire agreement was impending.

Tuesday August 12th: French president Nicolas Sarkozy travelled to Moscow to broker a ceasefire, which was initially met by both sides. Russian president Dmitry Medvedev ordered his army chiefs to halt fighting against its Caucasus neighbour – but reports suggested Russian tanks were moving into the town of Gori, 15 miles south of South Ossetia. Georgian troops retreated to defend the capital, Tbilisi.

Wednesday August 13th: It became clear Russian forces were not fully compliant with Mr Sarkozy's ceasefire. US president George Bush stepped in, ordering his country's military to Poti to distribute humanitarian aid.

Thursday August 14th: Russian forces were reported entering Poti, as Moscow claimed its forces were leaving Gori. Georgia said around 50 tanks remained in Gori.

Friday August 15th: Mr Medvedev hit out against the missile shield deal between Poland and the US, further escalating tensions between the former cold war antagonists. He said the idea they were aimed at "pariah states" was a "fairytale".

Saturday August 16th and Sunday August 17th: The weekend saw further Russian claims of withdrawal which appeared to be contradictory to the situation on the ground. Reports suggested the Russians were digging in well inside Georgian territory.

Monday August 18th: Russian intentions about a buffer zone in Georgia around South Ossetia began to emerge. Moscow again said it would pull troops back, but question-marks remained.

Tuesday August 19th: Russia rejected a French-drafted resolution calling on the Russian army to immediately leave Georgia, calling it "political propaganda". Mr Miliband accused Mr Medvedev of reneging on the ceasefire deal.

Friday August 22nd: Russia announced it had met all terms of the truce agreement, including a full troop withdrawal, but stated it would keep a peacekeeping force of 2,500 soldiers in "buffer zones" set up within its neighbour's borders.

Sunday August 24th: An American warship docked in Georgia carrying food, blankets and other relief supplies for those affected by the conflict.

Monday August 25th: Both the upper and lower houses of Russia's parliament voted resolutions called on Mr Medvedev to recognise the independence of Georgia's breakaway provinces.

Tuesday August 26th: The Russian president took that step, saying they had a right to determine their own futures. London responded by saying it "categorically rejected" the move.