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Georgia refutes S. Ossetia's reports on assault force in conflict area

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TBILISI, November 12 (RIA Novosti) - The Georgian Interior Ministry refuted Sunday the reports by its breakaway province of South Ossetia on allegedly bringing an assault force into the conflict area.

The South Ossetian information and press committee said Sunday that Georgia had allegedly airlifted its force to the village of Avnevi to prevent local residents from going to the polling place in the village of Mugut.

"We have not airlifted any force. These reports are completely absurd," said Shota Khizanishvili, administration head of the Georgian Interior Ministry.

South Ossetians are voting in a referendum to reaffirm their independence from Georgia and seek international recognition. Concurrently, there are electing their new regional leader.

Four candidates, including incumbent President Eduard Kokoity, are running for presidency in the republic.

As of 14:00 p.m. Moscow time (11:00 a.m. GMT), 64% of registered voters had come to the polls, crossing the electoral threshold of 50%, the republic's information and press committee said.

South Ossetia declared independence from Georgia following a bloody conflict in 1991-1992 that killed hundreds of people. The incumbent Georgian leadership is determined to bring the breakaway region back under its control.

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