German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed concern Friday about the escalating violence in the breakaway Georgian region of South Ossetia.

Merkel called on the parties to the conflict to exercise calm and end immediately the violence, a German government spokesman said.

The Chancellor, who at present is on vacation, is being kept informed of developments in the conflict, the spokesman said.

Germany is coordinating with its partners in the European Union, the OSCE and NATO on South Ossetia.