Russia: Georgia pullout has begun
Russia to withdraw troops from Georgia amid reports Moscow wants to maintain 'peacekeeping presence'
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Monday, 18, Aug 2008 05:34
Russia's army has officially confirmed its eagerly-anticipated withdrawal from Georgia has begun.
Moscow was due to pull troops out of Georgia proper after agreeing to a French-mediated ceasefire.
Earlier Georgian commanders reported no sign of troop movements in the gateway town of Gori or around the South Ossetian border.
But speaking on state television at around midday the deputy head of Russia's general staff - General Anatoly Nogovitsyn – said the planned retreat had begun.
"Today, in line with the plan, the withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers has begun," Gen Nogovitsyn said.
The two countries became embroiled in a ten-day conflict when Georgia began shelling the breakaway province of South Ossetia on Thursday August 7th.
Yesterday Russian president Dmitry Medvedev pledged to withdraw combat troops from within Georgian territory.
But reports on Monday claimed the Kremlin aimed to maintain a peacekeeping force in a buffer zone between South Ossetia and the rest of Georgia.
EU leaders and the US have warned Russia of serious consequences if it reneges on its promise to withdraw.
Georgian president Mikhail Saakashvili struck a more conciliatory tone ahead of the anticipated withdrawal, having dubbed the Russians as 'bloodthirsty barbarians' last week.
"I appeal to you that after your armed forces leave Georgian territory, to start serious thinking and discussions about further negotiations, a further search for ways [to conduct] relations in order not to sow discord between our countries for good," he was due to say in a televised address obtained ahead of time by the Reuters news agency.
"Let's not sow discord for future generations."