MOSCOW – A Russian news agency is quoting the leader of South Ossetia as saying that the breakaway Georgian region intends to become part of Russia.
Interfax quotes Eduard Kokoity as saying that the region — the site of last month's war between Russia and Georgia — intends to unite with North Ossetia, just across the border in Russia.
Interfax says Kokoity made the comments Thursday to foreign policy experts meeting in the Russian Black Sea city of Sochi.
Russia has already recognized South Ossetia as an independent nation, along with another Georgian region, Abkhazia.
War broke after Georgian forces launched an offensive Aug. 7 to retake South Ossetia. Russian forces then routed Georgia's military and drove deep into Georgia.
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