Georgia offers ceasefire

Aug 7 - Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili says he is offering South Ossetian separatists an immediate ceasefire following days of heavy fighting.

Russia accused Tbilisi of triggering overnight clashes with rebels and preparing for a large-scale battle.

South Ossetian authorities earlier said 18 people were wounded in what it described as heavy overnight artillery bombardment of the breakaway capital Tskhinvali and surrounding villages.

Saakashvili said he had now ordered Georgian forces not to return fire.

Andrew Potter reports.