Russia demands international tribunal on South Ossetia

Moscow, Aug 10 (UNI) Russia today demanded the setting up of an international tribunal on South Ossetia to try the officials who gave orders to capture and destroy Tskhinvali, the capital of the breakaway region of the former Soviet republic of Georgia.

''It is necessary to find out the responsible officials at a very high international level and to bring them to a legitimate international court,'' Russian Human Rights Commissioner Vladimir Lukin told mediapersons here.

''It is worthwhile, may be, for this purpose to set up specially an international tribunal, as they were repeatedly formed on other cases of mass annihilation of people and mass destruction of cities,'' Mr Lukin said.

''Suspects should be fingered out among those who gave orders, and this should be thoroughly scrutinised and investigated,'' he added, stressing, ''The one who gave orders for the destruction of Tskhinvali, is naturally the main responsible person.'' Moscow has claimed at least 2,000 people, including many children, have been killed and about 30,000 refugees have fled into Russia since Georgia launched a military offensive against South Ossetia.

Georgia yesterday introduced martial law and accused Russia of launching a war against it.

Meanwhile, Russian Ground Troops commander's aide Igor Konashenkov today told Itar-Tass three more Russian peacekeepers were killed in the repeated shelling by Georgia's artillery at South Ossetia, raising the number to 15.

The number of wounded peacekeepers has reached 70, Konashenkov said, adding 22 injured Russian peacekeepers were evacuated from the conflict zone to a hospital in Vladikavkaz, the capital of Russian region of North Ossetia.

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