Russians at port despite pullback

Russian forces manned a checkpoint on the road into Georgia's main Black Sea port yesterday, signalling the Kremlin's intention to keep a grip on Georgia's heartland despite Western criticism.

Georgian forces were once again controlling the country's biggest East-West highway, and a witness saw a large column of Russian tanks and armored cars leave a town near the Black Sea - evidence of Russia's promised pullback.

But the focus was shifting to the buffer zones stretching deep inside Georgia where Russia has said its troops will now maintain a permanent presence.