Reports from Georgia say Russian Troops Begin Moving from City of Gori
By VOA News
19 August 2008
Reports from Georgia say Russian tanks are leaving the city of Gori, in compliance with a cease-fire agreement signed last week.
Journalists in the city witnessed the pullback Tuesday, as news agencies quoted Russian officers who confirmed that the tanks were headed out.
Russia's permanent envoy to NATO told French radio the pullout will take several days.
In another development, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said Tuesday the sides have agreed to allow 20 military observers into the South Ossetia area.
Earlier, Russia and Georgia exchanged prisoners taken during the last two weeks of conflict. A Georgian government official said the exchange in the village of Igoeti included five Russians and 15 Georgians.
Russia sent tanks and troops into Georgia earlier this month, saying it had to protect Russian citizens after Georgia sent forces into South Ossetia - a breakaway Georgian region that favors Russia.
The Georgian operation was aimed at bringing the area back under Tbilisi's control.
Russian President Dmitri Medvedev warned Georgian authorities Monday that they face punishment for the incursion. Earlier, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili expressed readiness for talks with Moscow once Russian troops leave Georgia.
During the fighting, Russia quickly moved beyond South Ossetia, and now controls several Georgian cities and the major Black Sea port of Poti. Troops also control the nation's major highways.
President Saakashvili says Russians who stay behind can never be called "peacekeepers," and that Georgia will never surrender any territory.
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