Georgian official: Georgia and Russia 'close to war'

Georgia is 'under attack' as Russian tanks roll in. Georgian President said "This is the Worst Nightmare once can encounter" AP: US calls for immediate cease-fire in the clash over South Ossetia. Russian authorities claim several peace keepers killed in Georgian attack. ighting escalated between Georgian and Russian forces escalated earlier in the day with Georgia claiming to have downed four Russian combat warplanes, and Russian planes bombing the Vaziani airbase outside the Georgian capital of Tblisi. A Georgian interior ministry spokesman said three Georgian soldiers were killed in the airbase bombing. Russian Ground Forces spokesman Col. Igor Konashenkov said that 10 Russian peacekeepers were killed and another 30 wounded durring Georgian shelling of their barracks. Georgian officials denied firing on the Russian forces. Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Moscow was receiving reports that villages in South Ossetia were being ethnically cleansed. "We are receiving reports that a policy of ethnic cleansing was being conducted in villages in South Ossetia, the number of refugees is climbing, the panic is growing, people are trying to save their lives," he said during televised remarks in Moscow from Russia's Foreign Ministry. Georgian troops launched their offensive to regain control over the South Ossetia. Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili accused Russia, which has close ties to the separatists, of bombing Georgian territory. Saakashvili also said it was in the United States' interest to help his country. James Valles reports for AmericasReport.com For up to the minute information on this story log on to americasreport.com