Shevardnadze Speaks on Georgian "Grave Mistake"

It was also becoming increasingly clear that Georgia's assaults on Russian forces in its separatist province had backfired. Mr Saakashvili's conduct came under fire from Eduard Shevardnadze, the Soviet elder statesman who was Georgia's President for eight years until 2003.

"Georgia should not have intervened in [South Ossetian capital] Tskhinvali in such an ill-prepared manner. This was a grave mistake," Mr Shevardnadze told Bild, the German newspaper. "The situation is extremely tense and very complicated. What happens next is uncertain. I hope that the talks of President Saakashvili with his Western partners will lead to an end to the conflict," he said.

-from a TimesOnline article, 8/13/08 [London Times]