By Denis Sinyakov

TSKHINVALI, Georgia (Reuters) – Russian troops and tanks took the capital of the separatist Georgian region of South Ossetia on Sunday after a bloody three-day battle as Georgian forces retreated and offered a ceasefire.

Russia ordered in soldiers and bombed Georgian targets after Tbilisi attempted on Thursday evening to retake South Ossetia, a small pro-Russian province which broke away from Georgia in the 1990s.

The United States, Georgia’s main ally, condemned Moscow’s military action and warned that any further escalation could have a “significant, long-term impact” on relations.

It called on Russia and Georgia to cease hostilities and return to their pre-conflict positions, under which Moscow acted as a peacekeeper in South Ossetia.

A Reuters photographer entering Tskhinvali with Russian troops saw the bodies of Georgian soldiers lying in the streets and the ruins of buildings devastated in the fighting.

Georgia’s Foreign Ministry said it had told Russia on Sunday evening that it was ready “to immediately start negotiations” on a ceasefire and an end to hostilities.

Russia confirmed it had received the note but said Georgia had not stopped hostilities and continued to shell South Ossetia. Georgia accused Russia of again bombing a military airport on the outskirts of Tbilisi on Sunday evening, after the ceasefire offer.

In a possible opening of a second front in the conflict, Georgia accused Russia of starting a military operation earlier on Sunday in Abkhazia, another separatist region of Georgia to the west of South Ossetia. Moscow denied involvement.  Continued…