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TONY
HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: CNN has deployed its vast
international resources to bring you all of the
angles on this developing story. CNN's Barbara Starr
is covering the humanitarian efforts, Michael Ware is
outside the Georgian city of Gori, and Jim Bittermann
is following diplomatic efforts.
Let's begin with Jim in Paris.
HARRIS: Let's go inside Georgia now and the city of
Gori. It has been a nerve center of rising tensions,
and to some degree remains in limbo even today.
CNN's Michael Ware is there and spoke to our
colleagues at CNN International just a short time
ago.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MICHAEL WARE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm literally
standing on, for what it's worth, the front line in
this conflict. Where I am at this moment is virtually
on the city limits of that flash point city that you
referred to: Gori.
Now, just moments ago Russian special forces troops
were right here and they've only just moved back into
the city. So we can confirm that despite confusing
and contradictory reports coming from all sides, that
Russian forces, as of this moment, remain in control
of the city of Gori.
Now, there's untold number of reports of what's going
on in the city and within its outskirts, none of
which are able to be confirmed. However, there had
been a number of carjackings of journalists and
others who have attempted to enter the city. And for
now, the Russians have put a firm roadblock and are
preventing any entry into the city of Gori.
Now, this by and large cuts Georgia's main artery
from its capital Tbilisi to its port town. Now, if
you recall President Bush has stated categorically
that the U.S. expects Russia to maintain the lines of
communication for humanitarian assistance, including
the seaports.
Now, cutting this major artery certainly inhibits
that access. Whilst there are other routes, this very
much is the main artery that humanitarian aid would
most likely use running in to the capital Tbilisi.
But what we can tell you, as I repeat, is that the
Russian forces are firmly in control of the Georgian
city of Gori, which is just outside one of the two
disputed enclaves, this one being South Ossetia --
Andrew?
ANDREW STEVENS, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Well,
that's right. But just to clarify, Michael, Gori is
actually in Georgian country proper, if you like.
It's not in that break away province of South
Ossetia.
Now, we've been hearing reports over the last two or
three hours of explosions rocking the city of Gori. I
don't know whether you are in an area where you could
hear or whether you've been able to confirm anything
that's been happening as far as those explosions are
concerned.
WARE: Well, I can tell you that there's a number of
dark smoke plumes that are rising in and around the
area of the city. I cannot account for what they are.
But what we're hearing from both sides most recently
is that those explosions are controlled detonations
of munitions. It's impossible to confirm that.
However, on the approach leading to this city, you
can see, for what it's worth, a rag tag series of
columns of Georgian military. Now, it's a mix of
infantry, some very light armor, some artillery
pacers, and amounts to no more than perhaps a brigade
against what's amassed from the Russian army, which
is far superior.
So by and large, the route to the capital Tbilisi is
well and truly open to the Russians. And the forces
that we've seen are in no position to defend either
this road nor the capital itself.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: Okay, that was CNN's Michael Ware.