TBILISI, August 8, 2008 (AFP) - Georgia has lost control of parts of the South Ossetian rebel capital of Tskhinvali amid Russian bombardment, a spokesman for Georgia's interior ministry said, after earlier claiming control of the city.

'Russian armed forces are bombarding Tskhinvali,' the spokesman, Shota Utiashvili, told AFP in Tbilisi.

'We have lost control over some parts of the city,' he added.