U.S. urges talks and an end to violence over South Ossetia

BEIJING (Reuters) - The White House on Friday called for a halt to the bloodshed and for all sides to engage in direct negotiations to resolve the crisis over Georgia's South Ossetia region.

"All sides should bring an immediate end to the violence and engage in direct talks to resolve this matter peacefully," White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said during a visit by U.S. President George W. Bush to the Beijing Olympics.

Georgia's interior ministry said three Russian jets entered Georgian airspace and "dropped bombs" at two locations just south of breakaway South Ossetia, where fighting raged on Friday.

(Reporting by Matt Spetalnick; Editing by David Fogarty)