TEHRAN (IRNA) -- Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hassan Qashqavi said on Saturday that the Islamic Republic of Iran is concerned about the current conflict in the South Ossetia which claimed the lives of many defenseless civilians and calls for an immediate ceasefire to rescue civilians.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman expressed the hope that the belligerent rivals would exercise vigilance to help resolve the issue through peaceful means.
According to the Information and Press Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Qashqavi elaborated on the consequences of the current crisis and said continuation of such crises could leave negative impacts on the stability and security of Caucasus as well as the entire region.
Iran is to help restore peace and stability to the region and spares no efforts to resolve the crisis peacefully, he said.
Fighting is underway for a second night running in the Georgian separatist region of South Ossetia on Saturday.
Russia dispatched an armored column into South Ossetia on Friday after Georgia launched a surprise offensive to crush separatists.
Witnesses said hundreds of civilians were killed.
The fighting, which devastated the capital of Tskhinvali, threatened to ignite a wider war between Georgia and Russia, and escalate tensions between Moscow and Washington. Georgia said it was forced to launch the assault because of rebel attacks; the separatists alleged Georgia violated a cease-fire.