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Russia calls for urgent meeting with NATO

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-08-11 23:51

BRUSSELS  -- Russia is going to call for an extraordinary meeting with NATO so that the alliance can be informed of Moscow's activities in South Ossetia, said Russian ambassador to NATO Dmitry Rogozin on Monday.

Related readings:  South Ossetia crisis  Georgian forces quit S.Ossetia  Russia says it has taken control of South Ossetia capital  Russian FM says 1,500 killed in South Ossetia

"We insist it happen tomorrow when NATO ambassadors are going to meet Georgian minister of foreign affairs," Rogozin told reporters.

He wanted NATO to take into account information given by Moscow before the alliance makes any decisions or statements.

Rogozin wanted the meeting to be at the level of ambassadors.

Rogozin blamed Georgian forces for atrocities in South Ossetia after they entered the region on Thursday night.

He said 2,500 civilians have been killed so far and 18 Russian peacekeepers also lost their lives, with 14 others reported missing.

Rogozin said the Georgian forces committed genocide and ethnic cleansing in South Ossetia and that Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili should be held responsible.

"We call that from the point of view of international law genocide and ethnic cleansing. There is no other definition," he said.