Georgia's Saakashvili calls for immediate ceasefire

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TBILISI, Aug 9 (Reuters) - Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili called for an immediate ceasefire on Saturday and said Russia had launched a full-scale military invasion of his country.

"My offer is for an immediate ceasefire, disengagement of forces and the demilitarisation of every area where there is friction between troops," Saakashvili said at a news briefing.

"Russia has launched a full scale military invasion of Georgia."

Georgia invaded the separatist province of South Ossetia on Friday. Its large-scale military operation to retake the breakaway region prompted a military response from Russia.

Russian and Georgian troops are now battling in South Ossetia.

"Georgia will be willing to take the first steps provided there is no international vacuum and there is a serious international process," Saakashvili said.

South Ossetia and Abkhazia broke away from Georgia in the early 1990s after bloody wars.

The regions, backed by Russia, want their self-proclaimed independence to be internationally recognised and reject Georgian offers of wide autonomy.

Russia said it had seized control of South Ossetia's rebel capital, Tskhinvali, but Georgia denied the claim on the second day of fighting that threatens oil and gas pipelines seen as crucial in the West.

Russian officials said the death toll now stood at 1,500 and 30,000 refugees from South Ossetia had fled to Russia over the past 36 hours. Russia said two of its warplanes had been shot down and 12 of its soldiers had been killed. (Reporting by Margarita Antidze and James Kilner; Writing by Amie Ferris-Rotman; Editing by Giles Elgood)