Wellington  - New Zealand joined international calls for a ceasefire in South Ossetia on Monday, with Prime Minister Helen Clark expressing deep concern about the hostilities and loss of life as we

Moscow/Tiblisi, Georgia  - Fighting continued overnight to Monday in Tiblisi, despite attempts by western mediators to end the conflict between Georgia and Russia and calling for an immediate ceasefire by all parties.

Two explosions were heard overnight in the capital Tiblisi, according to Georgia's Interior Ministry. Two military bases were also bombarded by Russian fighter planes, though no details were available.

Russian troops were in control of the South Ossetia capital Tskhinval and there were reports of relative calm on Monday after three days of continuous bombings, according to Interfax news agency.

Beijing  - US President George W Bush on Monday said he had taken a "very firm" line with Russian leaders over the "unacceptable" violence in Georgia.

"I said this violence is unacceptable - I not only said it to (Russian Prime Minister) Vladimir Putin, I've said it to the president of the country, Dmitry Medvedev," Bush told US broadcaster NBC when asked about the conflict.

Bush said his government was trying to broker a cease-fire and a return to the military status quo of August 6.

Moscow, Aug 11, : Despite its withdrawal from South Ossetia, Georgia insists that Russia has continued air raids deep inside its territory, including its Capital Tbilisi and along its coastline. Moscow, on the other hand, rejected Tbilisi’s announcement that it had called a ceasefire and wanted talks.

Jets bombed targets near Tbilisi, including the airport, and Russia said its warships had sunk a Georgian boat that approached and tried to attack, the BBC reported.

The airport was hit only a few hours before French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner and Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb arrived on a peace mission.

Moscow/Tiblisi, Georgia  - The first western mediators in Tiblisi to work for an end to the conflict between Georgia and Russia late Sunday called for an immediate ceasefire by all parties.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, whose nation hold the rotating EU presidency, and Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb, head of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), met with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili.

The next step would be for all the wounded to be treated during a ceasefire, Kouchner said.

Moscow/Tbilisi - Russia on Sunday intensified airstrikes and a naval blockade against Georgia, as international diplomats sought ways to bring a ceasefire to the Caucasus province South Ossetia.

Three Russian air force Su-25 bombers struck an airfield adjacent to a military aircaft factory outside the Georgian capital Tbilisi shortly after dawn, causing damage but inflicting no casualties, a senior Georgian official said.