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Russian troops 'start withdrawal' Russia pledge on Georgia pull-out
(about 2 hours later)
The Russian commander of frontline forces in Georgia has told the BBC that a gradual withdrawal of Russian forces from Georgia is under way. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has said his forces will begin withdrawing from Georgia on Monday.
Maj Gen Vyacheslav Borisov said he had given the order for Russian soldiers to be replaced by peacekeepers. Mr Medvedev made the pledge in a telephone call to French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who brokered a Russian-Georgian ceasefire agreement.
A BBC correspondent said he saw Russian forces in position 35km (22 miles) from the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, on the road to Gori, close to South Ossetia. Earlier, the Russian commander of frontline forces in Georgia told the BBC a gradual withdrawal of Russian forces from there was under way.
Russia said it did not have a timetable for a full withdrawal from Gori. Russian troops went into Georgia after fighting erupted over South Ossetia.
Russia still controls almost all of the arterial highway running east-west through Georgia, and the main towns along the route. Maj Gen Vyacheslav Borisov said he had given the order for Russian soldiers in the village of Igueti, just over 32km (20 miles) from the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, to be replaced by Russian peacekeepers.
The BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse in Gori, the largest town close to the South Ossetian border, says there is a much-reduced Russian military presence in Gori town compared with Saturday and that instead lorries can be seen delivering humanitarian aid.
See map of the region See map of the region
The BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse, in Gori, the largest town close to the South Ossetia border, says there is a much reduced Russian military presence in the town compared with Saturday and that instead lorries can be seen delivering humanitarian aid.
But he says that Russian soldiers still control the town's key entry and exit points, and there is no sign yet of any withdrawal.But he says that Russian soldiers still control the town's key entry and exit points, and there is no sign yet of any withdrawal.
Even if Russian peacekeepers replace soldiers, the difference will not mean much to Georgian authorities, our correspondent adds.Even if Russian peacekeepers replace soldiers, the difference will not mean much to Georgian authorities, our correspondent adds.
Russia's claimed withdrawal comes a day after Moscow signed a French-brokered peace plan to end the crisis. Russia still controls almost all of the arterial highway running east-west through Georgia, and the main towns along the route.
President Medvedev's pledge comes a day after Moscow signed a French-brokered peace plan to end the crisis.
Conflict between Georgia and Russia erupted on 7 August when Georgia launched an assault to retake its Russian-backed separatist province of South Ossetia.Conflict between Georgia and Russia erupted on 7 August when Georgia launched an assault to retake its Russian-backed separatist province of South Ossetia.
It led to a massive counter-offensive by Russia, with Russia moving deeper into Georgian territory.It led to a massive counter-offensive by Russia, with Russia moving deeper into Georgian territory.
The US has demanded Russian troops pull out, but Moscow says it will only withdraw from Georgian territory once extra security measures are in place.The US has demanded Russian troops pull out, but Moscow says it will only withdraw from Georgian territory once extra security measures are in place.
International attentionInternational attention
French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who mediated the peace deal on behalf of the European Union, has warned Moscow that the ceasefire bars its forces from any "major urban area" in Georgia. President Sarkozy, who mediated the peace deal on behalf of the European Union, has warned Moscow that the ceasefire bars its forces from any "major urban area" in Georgia.
PEACE PLAN No more use of forceStop all military actions for goodFree access to humanitarian aidGeorgian troops return to their places of permanent deploymentRussian troops to return to pre-conflict positionsInternational talks about future status of South Ossetia and Abkhazia href="/1/hi/world/europe/7562959.stm">Russia in control and on move class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7563891.stm">Georgians rally behind leader class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7551576.stm">Day-by-day: Georgia-Russia crisis However, in a letter addressed to his Georgian counterpart, Mikhail Saakashvili, Mr Sarkozy said Russian troops did have the right to patrol "a few kilometres" beyond the conflict zone in South Ossetia. PEACE PLAN No more use of forceStop all military actions for goodFree access to humanitarian aidGeorgian troops return to their places of permanent deploymentRussian troops to return to pre-conflict positionsInternational talks about future status of South Ossetia and Abkhazia Day-by-day: Georgia-Russia crisis class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7566538.stm">In pictures: Russians in Georgia However, in a letter addressed to his Georgian counterpart, Mikhail Saakashvili, Mr Sarkozy said Russian troops did have the right to patrol "a few kilometres" beyond the conflict zone in South Ossetia.
But he underlined that clauses in the agreement permitting Russia to implement additional security measures "in no way limit or put in danger the freedom of movement and travel along the road and rail axes of Georgia" and could not be applied in any towns or cities.But he underlined that clauses in the agreement permitting Russia to implement additional security measures "in no way limit or put in danger the freedom of movement and travel along the road and rail axes of Georgia" and could not be applied in any towns or cities.
I am particularly thinking of the city of Gori," he said.I am particularly thinking of the city of Gori," he said.
The German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, is due to hold talks with Mr Saakashvili in Tbilisi later on Sunday.The German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, is due to hold talks with Mr Saakashvili in Tbilisi later on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch has called on the Russian authorities to immediately take steps to end attacks by South Ossetian militias on ethnic Georgians in Gori and to allow vital humanitarian aid to reach vulnerable civilians.Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch has called on the Russian authorities to immediately take steps to end attacks by South Ossetian militias on ethnic Georgians in Gori and to allow vital humanitarian aid to reach vulnerable civilians.
"The Russian military has effective control of the Gori region, making it responsible for the security and well-being of all people living there," said Rachel Denber, HRW's Europe deputy director."The Russian military has effective control of the Gori region, making it responsible for the security and well-being of all people living there," said Rachel Denber, HRW's Europe deputy director.
Russian controlRussian control
The BBC's Richard Galpin, who has spent the past two days travelling from the Black Sea port of Poti to Tbilisi, says Georgian forces seem to be surrendering control of the highway to the Russians.The BBC's Richard Galpin, who has spent the past two days travelling from the Black Sea port of Poti to Tbilisi, says Georgian forces seem to be surrendering control of the highway to the Russians.
The UN puts the number of those displaced in the conflict at 118,000In the western town of Senaki, our correspondent saw large numbers of Russian troops moving around on Saturday.The UN puts the number of those displaced in the conflict at 118,000In the western town of Senaki, our correspondent saw large numbers of Russian troops moving around on Saturday.
Further east in Zestafoni, he witnessed the panic of local residents as the word spread that the Russian army was approaching.Further east in Zestafoni, he witnessed the panic of local residents as the word spread that the Russian army was approaching.
Cars sped away from roadblocks set up by the Georgian police, the drivers realising their hopes of reaching Tbilisi had been dashed.Cars sped away from roadblocks set up by the Georgian police, the drivers realising their hopes of reaching Tbilisi had been dashed.
When the Russians arrived, they stayed only a few minutes after apparently being told there was no military base to take over.When the Russians arrived, they stayed only a few minutes after apparently being told there was no military base to take over.
Our correspondent says he then followed the Russian troops as they entered the central town of Khashuri, where they were given an escort by the local police.Our correspondent says he then followed the Russian troops as they entered the central town of Khashuri, where they were given an escort by the local police.
He spoke to one Russian soldier who said he believed their final destination would be the Georgian capital, although the Kremlin flatly denied this. Another soldier said he expected to be in Georgia for a year.He spoke to one Russian soldier who said he believed their final destination would be the Georgian capital, although the Kremlin flatly denied this. Another soldier said he expected to be in Georgia for a year.
Georgia has meanwhile accused pro-Russian Abkhaz separatist fighters of taking over 13 villages and a hydroelectric power plant. There has so far been no independent confirmation.Georgia has meanwhile accused pro-Russian Abkhaz separatist fighters of taking over 13 villages and a hydroelectric power plant. There has so far been no independent confirmation.
Security stepsSecurity steps
Among the six points in the ceasefire deal, both sides agreed to pull back their forces to their positions before hostilities began on 7 August.Among the six points in the ceasefire deal, both sides agreed to pull back their forces to their positions before hostilities began on 7 August.
Diplomats have said that the UN Security Council is expected to vote later on Sunday on a draft resolution formalising the ceasefire agreement.Diplomats have said that the UN Security Council is expected to vote later on Sunday on a draft resolution formalising the ceasefire agreement.
President Bush has said Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's signing of the truce is "hopeful", but that there can be no question that South Ossetia and Abkhazia will remain within Georgian borders, which are internationally recognised.President Bush has said Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's signing of the truce is "hopeful", but that there can be no question that South Ossetia and Abkhazia will remain within Georgian borders, which are internationally recognised.
Reports suggest Mr Saakashvili only reluctantly agreed to another of the plan's clauses - international talks about the future status of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.Reports suggest Mr Saakashvili only reluctantly agreed to another of the plan's clauses - international talks about the future status of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
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