Russian military vows to defend S.Ossetia peacekeepers

MOSCOW, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Russia's Defence ministry said on Friday it will protect the civilian population and its peacekeepers caught in fierce fighting between troops and separatists in Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia.

"The Georgian leadership has unleashed a dirty adventure," the ministry statement posted on its web site www.mil.ru said. "Blood spilled in South Ossetia will be blamed on these people and their associates. We will not allow our peacekeepers and citizens of the Russian Federation to be hurt."

Up to 90 percent of South Ossetia non-Georgian population carry Russian passports. (Writing by Oleg Shchedrov; Editing by Giles Elgood)