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| Russia pressed to honour pull-out | Russia pressed to honour pull-out |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Western powers have stepped up pressure on Russia to honour its pledge to begin withdrawing troops from Georgia. | Western powers have stepped up pressure on Russia to honour its pledge to begin withdrawing troops from Georgia. |
| French President Nicolas Sarkozy - who brokered the ceasefire agreed by Russia and Georgia - warned of "serious consequences" if Moscow did not comply. | French President Nicolas Sarkozy - who brokered the ceasefire agreed by Russia and Georgia - warned of "serious consequences" if Moscow did not comply. |
| The US and Germany also urged Moscow to start to pull out its troops, who remain deep inside Georgia, on Monday. | The US and Germany also urged Moscow to start to pull out its troops, who remain deep inside Georgia, on Monday. |
| They crossed the border after fighting erupted over Georgia's breakaway province of South Ossetia. | They crossed the border after fighting erupted over Georgia's breakaway province of South Ossetia. |
| Russian President Dmitry Medvedev made the withdrawal pledge on Sunday, in a telephone call to Mr Sarkozy. | Russian President Dmitry Medvedev made the withdrawal pledge on Sunday, in a telephone call to Mr Sarkozy. |
| However, Mr Medvedev did not clearly state that additional troops sent to Georgia during the conflict would return to Russia, suggesting some troops may retreat only as far as South Ossetia. | However, Mr Medvedev did not clearly state that additional troops sent to Georgia during the conflict would return to Russia, suggesting some troops may retreat only as far as South Ossetia. |
| See map of the region | See map of the region |
| The BBC's Sarah Rainsford in Moscow says the Russian statement looks like a compromise rather than complete adherence to the terms of last week's ceasefire - which says Russian troops should return to their pre-conflict positions. | The BBC's Sarah Rainsford in Moscow says the Russian statement looks like a compromise rather than complete adherence to the terms of last week's ceasefire - which says Russian troops should return to their pre-conflict positions. |
| Moscow - which has had peacekeepers in South Ossetia since 1992 - says it will only withdraw combat troops from Georgian territory once extra security measures are in place. | Moscow - which has had peacekeepers in South Ossetia since 1992 - says it will only withdraw combat troops from Georgian territory once extra security measures are in place. |
| PEACE PLAN No more use of forceStop all military actions for goodFree access to humanitarian aidGeorgian troops return to their places of permanent deploymentRussian troops to return to pre-conflict positionsInternational talks about security in South Ossetia and Abkhazia Day-by-day: Georgia-Russia crisisIn pictures: Russians in Georgia | PEACE PLAN No more use of forceStop all military actions for goodFree access to humanitarian aidGeorgian troops return to their places of permanent deploymentRussian troops to return to pre-conflict positionsInternational talks about security in South Ossetia and Abkhazia Day-by-day: Georgia-Russia crisisIn pictures: Russians in Georgia |
| Mr Sarkozy said on Sunday there would be "serious consequences" in Moscow's relations with the European Union if Russia failed to honour its pledge. | Mr Sarkozy said on Sunday there would be "serious consequences" in Moscow's relations with the European Union if Russia failed to honour its pledge. |
| And in a separate opinion article published by Le Figaro newspaper on Monday, he said that if Russia did not "rapidly and totally" implement the pull-out as specified in the ceasefire, he would "call an extraordinary meeting of the council of the European Union". | And in a separate opinion article published by Le Figaro newspaper on Monday, he said that if Russia did not "rapidly and totally" implement the pull-out as specified in the ceasefire, he would "call an extraordinary meeting of the council of the European Union". |
| "This pull-out must be carried out without delay," he wrote. "In my mind, this point is not negotiable." | "This pull-out must be carried out without delay," he wrote. "In my mind, this point is not negotiable." |
| US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told NBC television on Sunday Russia's reputation as an international partner was "in tatters". | US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told NBC television on Sunday Russia's reputation as an international partner was "in tatters". |
| But she added, referring to the withdrawal announced by Mr Medvedev: "This time I hope he means it." | But she added, referring to the withdrawal announced by Mr Medvedev: "This time I hope he means it." |
| Tens of thousands of Georgians have been displaced by the fighting | Tens of thousands of Georgians have been displaced by the fighting |
| Also on Sunday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel travelled to the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, and expressed support for President Mikhail Saakashvili. | Also on Sunday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel travelled to the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, and expressed support for President Mikhail Saakashvili. |
| She said the world expected a prompt Russian withdrawal. "We cannot delay this task," she said. | She said the world expected a prompt Russian withdrawal. "We cannot delay this task," she said. |
| The German chancellor added that Georgia could become a Nato member if it wanted to. Tbilisi's bid to join Nato is fiercely opposed by Russia. | The German chancellor added that Georgia could become a Nato member if it wanted to. Tbilisi's bid to join Nato is fiercely opposed by Russia. |
| Nato ministers are expected to meet this week to discuss the crisis in Georgia. The US is backing efforts by both Georgia and Ukraine to join the alliance. | Nato ministers are expected to meet this week to discuss the crisis in Georgia. The US is backing efforts by both Georgia and Ukraine to join the alliance. |
| 'Provocation' | 'Provocation' |
| The BBC's Helen Fawkes in Tbilisi says there is scepticism among Georgians about whether there will be a complete withdrawal of Russian forces. | The BBC's Helen Fawkes in Tbilisi says there is scepticism among Georgians about whether there will be a complete withdrawal of Russian forces. |
| One senior Georgian official told the BBC they will only believe it when they see it. | One senior Georgian official told the BBC they will only believe it when they see it. |
| But in an address to be televised on Monday, Mr Saakashvili will adopt a more conciliatory tone than before. | But in an address to be televised on Monday, Mr Saakashvili will adopt a more conciliatory tone than before. |
| He will say: "Let's not sow discord for future generations. I don't appeal to your mercy but I appeal to your pragmatism and simple common sense." | He will say: "Let's not sow discord for future generations. I don't appeal to your mercy but I appeal to your pragmatism and simple common sense." |
| Russian troops are still controlling the key towns of Gori, north of Tbilisi, and Senako in the west. | Russian troops are still controlling the key towns of Gori, north of Tbilisi, and Senako in the west. |
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| The scene in one area of central Gori | The scene in one area of central Gori |
| They also hold almost all of the main highway running east-west through Georgia. | They also hold almost all of the main highway running east-west through Georgia. |
| The New York Times said it had been told by US officials that Russia had also moved SS-21 missile launchers near to South Ossetia's capital, Tskhinvali, putting them within range of Tbilisi. | |
| Russia's defence ministry says it has intercepted communications suggesting that an armed group dressed as Russian soldiers was about to stage a "major provocation" in Gori. | Russia's defence ministry says it has intercepted communications suggesting that an armed group dressed as Russian soldiers was about to stage a "major provocation" in Gori. |
| Georgia dismissed the statement, saying such a provocation could only be staged by Russia itself to keep its troops in the region. | Georgia dismissed the statement, saying such a provocation could only be staged by Russia itself to keep its troops in the region. |
| At the United Nations in New York, attempts to secure security council backing for the French-mediated ceasefire agreement appear to have been stalled. | At the United Nations in New York, attempts to secure security council backing for the French-mediated ceasefire agreement appear to have been stalled. |
| A rift has arisen over the status of South Ossetia and Abkhazia - another Georgian enclave held by pro-Russian separatists - unnamed diplomats quoted by AFP news agency said. | A rift has arisen over the status of South Ossetia and Abkhazia - another Georgian enclave held by pro-Russian separatists - unnamed diplomats quoted by AFP news agency said. |
| The conflict between Georgia and Russia erupted on 7 August when Georgia launched an assault to retake South Ossetia, an enclave within Georgia controlled by pro-Russian separatists. | The conflict between Georgia and Russia erupted on 7 August when Georgia launched an assault to retake South Ossetia, an enclave within Georgia controlled by pro-Russian separatists. |
| The operation triggered Russia's offensive. | The operation triggered Russia's offensive. |
| Back to story | Back to story |