Georgia, South Ossetia report exchange of gunfire along tense administrative border

Gunfire exchanged on Georgia-South Ossetia border

TBILISI, Georgia — Georgia and its breakaway region of South Ossetia have reported gunfire exchanges along their tense administrative border. No casualties have been reported.

The reported shootings occurred before talks with international monitors Thursday on efforts to diffuse tensions in the region following last year’s war between Georgia and Russia, which backs South Ossetia.

Georgia’s Interior Ministry says a police post in the village of Plavi came under automatic weapon fire for several minutes Wednesday night.

South Ossetia’s separatist government says about two hours later heavy-caliber weapons were fired on the village of Otrev, where about 15 families live. A government spokeswoman says villagers sought safety in nearby woods.