EU access to 'security zone' postponed

Russia's military said yesterday that European Union cease-fire monitors would not have immediate access to its "security zone" inside Georgia, drawing accusations from Tbilisi that it was stalling a promised troop pullback.

After routing Georgian forces in a five-day war in August, Russia established the buffer zone on Georgian territory adjoining South Ossetia which Moscow has now recognized as an independent state.

EU monitors want to enter the zone so Moscow can withdraw from it as promised under a French-brokered cease-fire, but the Russian military said a technical agreement on access had not yet been finalized.