SOUTH OSSETIA: MORTARS SHOT IN DEAD OF NIGHT

MOSCOW/TSKHINVALI/TBILISI, August 1 (RIA Novosti) - The unrecognized South Ossetian republic, Georgia's rebellious province, had another troublesome night with mortar fire sweeping the village of Pris on three occasions within several hours, Irina Gagloyeva, South Ossetian press and information committee chief, said in a telephone report. No one was hurt, though the fire was intensive, she added.

As she assumes, Georgian peacekeepers stationed in the nearby village Argvis were shooting at an Ossetian peacekeeping battalion in Pris, a mere three to four kilometers off Tskhinvali, South Ossetian capital. Irakly Okruashvili, Georgia's Interior Minister, commanded the bombardment, she alleges. The minister is currently in South Ossetia, and his orders were heard in Ossetian-tapped radio talks.

Guram Donadze, chief of Georgia's Interior Ministry press center, refused to comment on Ms. Gagloyeva's allegations for Novosti. "I can't say anything at all just now." True, Mr. Okruashvili is now in the conflict zone-but he merely could not command the shooting. The press center chief is positive on that point.

The situation is calm in South Ossetia now, says Irina Gagloyeva.