S.Ossetia to ask Russia to set up extra posts on Georgia border

S.Ossetia to ask Russia to set up extra posts on Georgia border (NSI News Source Info) TSKHINVALI - August 24, 2008: The breakaway Georgian republic of South Ossetia is to ask Russia to set up extra observer posts on its de facto border with Georgia, the republic's acting prime minister, Boris Chochiev, said on Sunday. "There are divisions of the Georgian army and police in villages in the border Leningorsk Region. We do not know the total amount of men there at present," he said. He added that the republic's authorities would ask Russian peacekeepers to place extra observer posts specifically in this area. The republic's defense minister also said that he was in possession of information indicating that Georgian forces were being boosted in the Leningorsk Region. Georgia attacked South Ossetia on August 8 in an attempt to take back the separatist republic, which split from Georgia in the early 1990s. Most citizens of South Ossetia have Russian citizenship and Moscow subsequently launched an operation to "force Georgia to peace." The operation was concluded on August 12. The deputy chief of Russia's General Staff said at a news conference on Saturday that Russia had set up 18 peacekeeping posts in South Ossetia. South Ossetia has appealed to Russia to recognize its sovereignty. Both chambers of Russia's parliament are expected to consider the appeal by the republic on Monday.