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Russia pressed to honour pull-out Georgia awaits Russia withdrawal
(about 3 hours later)
Western powers have stepped up pressure on Russia to honour its pledge to begin withdrawing troops from Georgia. Russia is expected to begin withdrawing troops from Georgia, following a pledge by President Dmitry Medvedev.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy - who brokered the ceasefire agreed by Russia and Georgia - warned of "serious consequences" if Moscow did not comply. But Moscow has said it has the right to keep some troops as peacekeepers in a buffer zone around South Ossetia.
The US and Germany also urged Moscow to start to pull out its troops, who remain deep inside Georgia, on Monday. He promised to abide by the terms of a ceasefire brokered to end a week's fighting in Georgia and its breakaway province of South Ossetia.
They crossed the border after fighting erupted over Georgia's breakaway province of South Ossetia. The West has urged Moscow to pull out, and France said it would call a special EU summit if Russia did not comply.
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.
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.
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 class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7551576.stm">Day-by-day: Georgia-Russia crisis class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7566538.stm">In pictures: Russians in Georgia class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7567078.stm">Georgia left reeling Monitoring call
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 Medvedev made the withdrawal pledge on Sunday, in a telephone call to French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who brokered last week's ceasefire.
But the Russian president did not clearly state that additional troops sent to Georgia during the conflict would return to Russia, suggesting some may retreat only as far as South Ossetia.
See map of the region
The BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse, in Gori, reported on Monday that while there was much Russian troop movement, there was no sign yet of troops pulling out.
If and when the withdrawal begins, there are likely to be many more discussions about the exact interpretation of the rather vague ceasefire deal - especially over just how far into Georgia Russian troops are allowed to remain, says the BBC's Caroline Wyatt in Moscow. 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 GeorgiaGeorgia left reeling
A covering letter attached to the ceasefire apparently says Russia can place peacekeepers in a buffer zone of a few kilometres around the South Ossetian border, our correspondent says.
Moscow has already started to say it plans to enforce a 1999 peacekeeping accord on South Ossetia, which would allow it to put Russian peacekeepers 14 kilometres into Georgia proper.
Georgia's President Mikhail Saakashvili has called for international monitoring of the pullout.
And US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said she hoped Mr Medvedev would keep his word on the troop withdrawal pledge, warning that Russia's reputation as a potential partner was "in tatters".
Mr Sarkozy said on Sunday there would be "serious consequences" in Moscow's relations with the European Union if Russia failed to honour its word.
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". German Chancellor Angela Merkel has travelled to the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, to express support for Mr Saakashvili, and urged a prompt Russian withdrawal.
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
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.
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.
'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.
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.
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.
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The scene in one area of central GoriThe scene in one area of central Gori
They also hold almost all of the main highway running east-west through Georgia. As well as key towns such as Gori and Senaki, in the west, Russian troops 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. There are reports of Russia moving 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. Pragmatism
Georgia dismissed the statement, saying such a provocation could only be staged by Russia itself to keep its troops in the region. 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.Tens of thousands of Georgians have been displaced by the fighting
At the United Nations in New York, attempts to secure security council backing for the French-mediated ceasefire agreement appear to have been stalled. The operation triggered Russia's offensive, and ensuing fighting has devastated towns and villages and forced nearly 160,000 people to flee their homes, according to the UNHCR.
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. Mr Saakashvili, who has taken a combative stance to Russia's actions so far, is expected to adopt a more conciliatory approach to Moscow's leadership in a televised speech later Monday.
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. "Let's not sow discord for future generations," he is expected to say. "I don't appeal to your mercy but I appeal to your pragmatism and simple common sense."
The operation triggered Russia's offensive. Nato ministers are expected to gather this week to discuss the crisis. The US is backing efforts by both Georgia and Ukraine to join the alliance, and on Sunday Mrs Merkel offered her support to Tbilisi's bid.
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