Fighting raged around Tskhinvali, the capital of the separatist province of South Ossetia. Swarms of Russian planes launched new raids across Georgia, with at least one sending screaming civilians running for cover.

The invasions of three western towns and Gori, which sits on Georgia's only east-west highway, came despite a top Russian general's claim earlier Monday that Russia had no plans to enter Georgian territory.

Security Council head Alexander Lomaia said Monday it was not immediately clear if Russian forces would advance on Tbilisi, the Georgian capital. The U.N. Security Council called an emergency session at Georgia's request—the fifth meeting on the subject in as many days.

The two-front battlefield was a major escalation in the conflict that blew up late Thursday after a Georgian offensive to regain control of the separatist province of South Ossetia. Even as Saakashvili signed a cease-fire pledge Monday with EU mediators, Russia appeared determined to subdue the small U.S. ally that has been pressing for NATO membership.
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