Key Georgian forests ravaged by fires: WWF

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2008

GENEVA (AFP) — Up to 280 hectares (692 acres) of forests have been burnt or are alight in Georgia after its conflict with Russia, the WWF said Wednesday, warning that key conservation areas were under threat.

In a statement, it called on "all parties capable of helping put out forest fires in central Georgia to work together to extinguish them".

The fires are centred in the Borjomi-Kharagauli area, about 70 kilometres (43 miles) west of the strategic city of Gori, some 60 kilometres from the Georgian capital Tbilisi.

Georgia's foreign ministry had said Saturday that the Borgomi Gorge area had been targeted by Russian helicopters dropping firebombs in a dozen locations.

But a Russian defence ministry spokesman was quoted by state news agency RIA...