S. Ossetian president vows no concessions as shots ring out

The outgoing South Ossetian president said on Wednesday the country's authorities will make no electoral concessions as security services fired warning shots at supporters of self-declared president Alla Dzhioyeva. "The republic's leadership will make no concessions and will not yield to pressure," Eduard Kokoity said. "I call on everyone to come to their senses and make serous conclusions." He also said that Alla Dzhioyeva's attempt to declare herself president and create a government council was illegal and violated South Ossetia's laws. Kokoity said he ordered that there be no use of force against law-abiding protestors in Tskhinvali, but his press conference was interrupted by the sounds of shooting. A government source said the country's security services fired shots in the air as Alla Dzhioyeva's supporters tried to force their way into Central Election Commission headquarters. At the moment from 700 to 1,000 people are rallying in the main square of Tskhinvali. No injuries were reported among the protestors. Both Dzhioyeva and the region's emergencies minister Anatoly Bibilov, seen as Moscow's favored candidate, claim to have won Sunday's runoff vote, although no official result has been announced. On Tuesday, the Russian-backed province's Supreme Court annulled the polls, citing violations by Dzhioyeva's supporters. She was also barred from running in a second election on March 25.