Global General

Special

Newsmaker

Asia Pacific

America

Middle East

Europe

Africa

Georgian official: Russian troops leaving Gori

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-08-22 21:16

TBILISI, Georgia -- Russian troops were leaving the strategic Georgian city of Gori on Friday, the day that Russia's president had said a pullback would be complete.

A Russian soldier gestures as Russian troops leave the Georgian town of Gori August 22, 2008. [Agencies]

Georgian Security Council head Alexander Lomaia said "we are seeing the pullback of Russian troops" from Gori, a key crossroads in central Georgia.

Related readings:  Russia presents UN draft resolution on Georgia  Russia, Syria to build strategic relations  Russia armor seen pulling back from Georgia

Earlier, Gori regional governor Vladimir Vardzelashvili said that 40 Russian military vehicles had left Gori heading north.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev had promised to have his troops out of Georgia by Friday. But a top Russian general amended Medvedev's prediction, saying Thursday it could be 10 days before the bulk of Russian troops leave the country.

Russia sent its tanks and troops into Georgia after Georgia launched a heavy artillery barrage Aug. 7 on the separatist province of South Ossetia. Fighting also has flared in a second Georgian breakaway region, Abkhazia.

The short war has driven tensions between Russia and the West to some of their highest levels since the 1991 breakup of the Soviet Union.

A cease-fire signed by the presidents of Russia and Georgia calls for Russian forces to pull back to the positions they held before Aug. 7. The cease-fire allows Russia to maintain troops in a zone extending about 4 miles into Georgia along the South Ossetian border.