Turkey to Let Relief Ships Through

WASHINGTON - The United States says Turkey is allowing three U.S. military ships to pass through Turkish straights to deliver humanitarian relief supplies to Georgia.

State Department spokesman Robert Wood says NATO ally Turkey has approved the passage of two U.S. Navy ships and a Coast Guard cutter to transit from the Mediterranean to the Black Sea. He would not comment Wednesday on reports that Turkey was unwilling to allow military hospital ships to pass.

Wood said that since Aug. 19, the United States has delivered supplies to Georgia's capital, Tblisi, on 20 flights.

The aid is intended for people displaced since Russia sent tanks and troops into Georgia. Russia's offensive came after Tblisi launched an artillery barrage Aug. 7 on the separatist, pro-Russian province of South Ossetia.