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Bombing of Georgia town tears into family's heart

Mon Aug 11, 2008 9:22 AM EDT
world-news, georgia, town, bombed, nana-mamukashvili
David Nowak, Associated Press
< PreviousNext >
showing 1 of 3 photos
<p>Givi Mamukashvili, left and his sister Nana react in their damaged apartment  the town of Gori, Georgia, just outside the breakaway province of South Ossetia, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2008. Georgia, whose troops have been trained by American soldiers, began an offensive to regain control over South Ossetia overnight Friday, launching heavy rocket and artillery fire and air strikes that pounded the provincial capital, Tskhinvali. In response, Russia, which has granted passports to most South Ossetians, launched overwhelming artillery shelling and air attacks on Georgian troops. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)</p>

Givi Mamukashvili, left and his sister Nana react in their damaged apartment the town of Gori, Georgia, just outside the breakaway province of South Ossetia, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2008. Georgia, whose troops have been trained by American soldiers, began an offensive to regain control over South Ossetia overnight Friday, launching heavy rocket and artillery fire and air strikes that pounded the provincial capital, Tskhinvali. In response, Russia, which has granted passports to most South Ossetians, launched overwhelming artillery shelling and air attacks on Georgian troops. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)

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GORI — Each crunching step she took on the broken glass covering her floor was a bitter reminder of Nana Mamukashvili's son, dead at 21 from a Russian warplane attack.

Georg was a soldier — but not one of those in the nearby breakaway republic of South Ossetia where Georgian and Russian forces were locked in battle. Instead, the war came to him.

He was down the street from the family home on Saturday, patrolling a road that President Mikhail Saakashvili was to travel later that day. Then the bombs exploded, killing him and more than 20 others, setting the neighborhood ablaze and blasting out the windows in the Mamukashvili house.

His 80-year-old grandmother, Sofia, blames the leadership of both Russia and Georgia for the violence.

"Oh, well done, Putin; oh how clever you are, Saakashvili," she said, weeping.

Gori is just 15 miles from Tskhinvali, the South Ossetia provincial capital that was the scene of the worst fighting. Thousands had already fled Gori by the time Saturday's bombs struck.

But Georg's grandmother, mother and uncle couldn't bear to leave.

"We are waiting here to die. This place is going to oblivion," Nana said in the wrecked front room.

"Where do we have to go? Why and how can we go anywhere?" asked Sofia.

They spent much of Sunday on the street. It's too painful to stay inside: Georg's spare uniform hung in the corner and a photo of him as a smiling child was on display.

Fine shards of glass coat the floor. Through tears, Nana said walking across it tore at her heart.

The bombing was one of three separate attacks on Gori on Saturday. The victims — at least 28 dead and more than 200 injured — overfilled a local hospital's morgue and wards.

An Associated Press reporter who visited the town shortly after the strike saw several apartment buildings in ruins, some still on fire, and scores of dead bodies and bloodied civilians. The elderly, women and children were among the victims.

Doctors said some of the injuries and deaths were consistent with those caused by cluster bombs.

"You wonder what weapons are used when you see torn limbs, beheaded corpses, bodies torn in three, sometimes just a mess. Not a person, a mess," said Nick Kipshidze, chief physician at University Hospital in Tbilisi, the Georgian capital, who was co-ordinating a clean-up operation in Gori.

The Mamukashvilis said they had not heard of the cluster bomb rumors, but were convinced the Russian bombers would return.

"If they can take away our Georg just like that," said Nana, snapping her fingers, "What's stopping them finishing us all off?"

© 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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  • Public Discussion (9)
JLTpa

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius -- and a lot of courage -- to move in the opposite direction." -Albert Einstein

  • 3 votes
Reply#1 - Mon Aug 11, 2008 10:08 AM EDT
volkulak

"Separatists" was killed (2 000 only civilian people) South Osetia is die. Georgia will live (lie) without small nations. But in Europe and in NATO.

    Reply#2 - Mon Aug 11, 2008 10:27 AM EDT
    hoodie_81

    I love that quote and how true it is.

    It's just terrible the stuff that is going on there. I hope and wish for peace for the people there.

      Reply#3 - Mon Aug 11, 2008 10:43 AM EDT
      Riddel

      Could it be that Georgia was emboldened by support given to it by the U.S.. Much the same as Cuba was emboldened by Russian support? Did they think The U.S. would hold Russia at bay while they dealt with Ossetia?

        Reply#4 - Mon Aug 11, 2008 12:24 PM EDT
        gundusha

        During war in 1992 I've been in Abkhazia, in blockade. And i know what was really going on: georgians killed us, they seeked abkhazian families and killed everybody, even small children, they burned our libraries, our historical documents, they wanted to destroy our nation completely, but thank God, we won this war and defended our independensy, but World community didn't recognised us. So 15 years we've been living as Independent country with our government, our President, our own Constitution, our language, AND NOBODY, NOBODY KNOWS ABOUT IT!!!! IF RUSSIA LET gEORGIA TO DESTROY US, no one will no about it, and after the Security Council conference, I see nobody cares, EVERYBODY HIDES THE TRUTH. WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT RUSSIA'S INTEREST, WE DON'T CARE, WE JUST WANT TO SURVIVE AND TO BE HEARD!!! BUT NOBODY LISTENS!!! PLEASE, PEAPLE, HELP US EVERYBODY SHOULD KNOW THE TRUTH!! BECAUSE THIS IS THE TRUTH!!!

          Reply#5 - Mon Aug 11, 2008 12:41 PM EDT
          gundusha

          GEORGIANS ARE KILLING OSSETIANS, THEY WANT TO DESTROY US,THERE IS DESINFORMATION, GEORGIA IS NOT A VICTIM. I'M FROM ABKHAZIA. EVERYBODY SHOULD KNOW THAT'S REALLY HAPPENING!!! PLEASE TELL IT TO YOUR FRIENDS AND EVERYBODY YOU KNOW.
          HELP US!!! OUR NATIONS COULD BE DESTRIYED!!!!

            Reply#6 - Mon Aug 11, 2008 12:42 PM EDT
            gundusha

            Remember, the system of international law after Iraq and Yugoslavia already is not present. There will be right, who has more rights. Who will win war - that will be right according to all international standards and except for a jabber on a television set no approvals will not be to him. And mandates, letters and resolutions of UNO, fit only for Pan Gui Munu wiped up - more no other benefit from them is not present.

              Reply#7 - Mon Aug 11, 2008 12:43 PM EDT
              Jonnyboy411

              What is wrong with these people? If you really want to find peace and what not you must not go bombing someone. Violence is the last thing that should be done and only in an attempt to protect yourself. Is there even a reason anymore for any fighting between the Russians and the Georgians? Peace if there isn't!

                Reply#8 - Mon Aug 11, 2008 1:50 PM EDT
                gundusha

                Yes, you are right, but as I told before Georgia started to kill Ossetians, destroyed Tskhinvalli, they just cleaned the territory, they are killing children, I'm in Abkhazia now and I know what is happening. Russia destroys there strategic bases, about 2000 ossetians are dead. Georgia lies, it's just a stupid theatre. Georgia grows their miliotary powers, Russia just have to defend thir borders. Georgia's tragedy is A BIG LIE, PEOPLE WAKE UP!!!!

                  Reply#9 - Mon Aug 11, 2008 2:30 PM EDT
                  volkulak

                  First of all. I want to speak about European and U.S Mass Media. Few facts for your think:
                  1) You introduce to war in Georgia only from television broadcast. With the point of view mass media channel. These journalists comment bombing Gori using cadres of Thinsvali. Most of them use kadrs from russian news channel "ВЕСТИ".
                  2) Since 3.00 a.m. 07.08.08 most of the U.S., U.K. and European news sites was cloused for russian comments. Thank this site very much for enable to give an opportunity.
                  3) Most of the comment Georgians is forgery. Becouse Internet in Georgia was cloused. Doesn't work not only domen .ru, but and .com. About others I doesn't know. I can't to contact with my scientific colleague.
                  4) There are a lot of houses in Gori: only two. In one foto man in T-shirt (with a cry). In others witout T-shirt (running for home for change he's clothes). For others: dead body hold nurse by the hand. IF this is not dead body, this way of transportationwithout fail, kills them. Becouse blood is goin to the groin and inflame. You can't vision gash, you vison only blood (or coat with paint). Others side of house in Gori more like an uninhabited. Many balcony was cloused garbage. No window-frame, no window-gass, no flowers. Соverlet in one foto on garbage. Next foto on the dead body. But dead body is moving. Looking on old WWII foto bildings after bombin clousing, like a house of cards. Modern bombing more effective.

                    Reply#10 - Tue Aug 12, 2008 3:51 AM EDT
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