Helsinki - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Finnish President Tarja Halonen on Monday discussed the situation in the breakaway region of South Ossetia in Georgia, the Finnish president's office said.

Halonen expressed concern for the situation and called for an immediate end to the fighting saying "there was no military solution" and that humanitarian relief should be channelled to the civilian population, according to a statement issued by the president's office.

The Finnish president backed recent calls for troops to be withdrawn to the positions held before fighting broke out last week.

Strasbourg - The Council of Europe on Monday called for free access by aid organizations to the conflict zones of Georgia, while offering its help in seeking a solution to the conflict between Georgia and Russia.

"I urge once again all parties to immediately enter into a ceasefire," said Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the 47-nation Council of Europe, prior to his departure to Georgia along with council Secretary General Terry Davis as part of diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis.

Wellington  - New Zealand joined international calls for a ceasefire in South Ossetia on Monday, with Prime Minister Helen Clark expressing deep concern about the hostilities and loss of life as we

Moscow/Tiblisi, Georgia  - Fighting continued overnight to Monday in Tiblisi, despite attempts by western mediators to end the conflict between Georgia and Russia and calling for an immediate ceasefire by all parties.

Two explosions were heard overnight in the capital Tiblisi, according to Georgia's Interior Ministry. Two military bases were also bombarded by Russian fighter planes, though no details were available.

Russian troops were in control of the South Ossetia capital Tskhinval and there were reports of relative calm on Monday after three days of continuous bombings, according to Interfax news agency.

Beijing  - US President George W Bush on Monday said he had taken a "very firm" line with Russian leaders over the "unacceptable" violence in Georgia.

"I said this violence is unacceptable - I not only said it to (Russian Prime Minister) Vladimir Putin, I've said it to the president of the country, Dmitry Medvedev," Bush told US broadcaster NBC when asked about the conflict.

Bush said his government was trying to broker a cease-fire and a return to the military status quo of August 6.

Moscow, Aug 11, : Despite its withdrawal from South Ossetia, Georgia insists that Russia has continued air raids deep inside its territory, including its Capital Tbilisi and along its coastline. Moscow, on the other hand, rejected Tbilisi’s announcement that it had called a ceasefire and wanted talks.

Jets bombed targets near Tbilisi, including the airport, and Russia said its warships had sunk a Georgian boat that approached and tried to attack, the BBC reported.

The airport was hit only a few hours before French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner and Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb arrived on a peace mission.