Russia promises to withdraw most of troops from Georgia
Saturday, 23 August 2008
TBILISI, Aug 22, 2008 (AFP): Russia promised to withdraw most forces from deep inside Georgia Friday, but was set to retain a military presence in two separatist regions and a buffer zone. Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov announced the pull-out two weeks after tanks and troops poured into South Ossetia to repel an attempt by Georgia's army to seize back control of the Moscow-backed breakaway region.
"On Friday August 22 at 6:00 am local time (0200 GMT), all Russian forces will begin their withdrawal from Georgian territory to South Ossetia," Serdyukov was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency.
However, Serdyukov indicated that only advance troops posted deep inside Georgia would be affected -- not the huge force of troops and heavy equipment now occupying Georgia's rebel South Ossetia and Abkhazia regions.
The commander of Russian ground forces in the region, General Vladimir Boldyrev, said late Thursday that the bulk of troops "will require around 10 days to leave their current positions.
"On Friday August 22 at 6:00 am local time (0200 GMT), all Russian forces will begin their withdrawal from Georgian territory to South Ossetia," Serdyukov was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency.
However, Serdyukov indicated that only advance troops posted deep inside Georgia would be affected -- not the huge force of troops and heavy equipment now occupying Georgia's rebel South Ossetia and Abkhazia regions.
The commander of Russian ground forces in the region, General Vladimir Boldyrev, said late Thursday that the bulk of troops "will require around 10 days to leave their current positions.