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EU observers deployed in Georgia Confusion over EU's Georgia role
(about 7 hours later)
About 300 unarmed EU observers from 22 countries have been deployed in Georgia to monitor a Russian troop withdrawal. Only hours before scores of EU observers are expecting to start patrolling in Georgia, it is still unclear where they can go.
They are due to start patrols on Wednesday. Russia says it will complete its withdrawal from "buffer zones" in Georgia by 10 October. They are due to start patrols on Wednesday, and had expected immediate access to "buffer zones" around breakaway Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
Russia has kept troops in the zones since ousting Georgia's forces from its breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia in early August. But a Russian spokesman said they would not be allowed into the zones yet.
EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana will inspect the EU mission on Tuesday. Russia has kept troops in the zones since ousting Georgia's forces after war broke out in early August.
He will meet Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili and visit refugees in the town of Gori. About 300 EU observers from 22 nations have been deployed in Georgia to monitor Russia's troop withdrawal, which Moscow says will be completed by 10 October.
But the monitors would only be able to patrol "up to the southern limit of the security zone", said Lt Col Vitaly Manushko, spokesman for Russian forces in South Ossetia, quoted by the Interfax news agency.
He said the European observers would be unarmed, and would not be able to erect observation posts.
Negotiations
The spokesman was not available to clarify his comments, and negotiations between the Russian military and the EU mission were reported to be continuing, says the BBC's Richard Galpin, in Gori, Georgia.
EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, who was in the region to launch the mission, said: "I am optimistic that all the parties will comply, as we have done, to the terms of the agreement."
The Russian pull-back was agreed in a ceasefire deal brokered by the French President, Nicolas Sarkozy.The Russian pull-back was agreed in a ceasefire deal brokered by the French President, Nicolas Sarkozy.
But Russia plans to keep nearly 8,000 troops in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which it has recognised as independent states.But Russia plans to keep nearly 8,000 troops in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which it has recognised as independent states.
Western leaders have condemned both the buffer zones and Russia's recognition of the two regions.Western leaders have condemned both the buffer zones and Russia's recognition of the two regions.
The EU wants its observers to have access to the breakaway regions. The EU wants its observers to have access to the breakaway regions, but Russia has repeatedly refused to guarantee that.
But a spokesman for the Russian forces in the area, Lt Col Vitaly Manushko, said the EU observers' "principal mission is to monitor the situation in the security zone," stressing that they "will not be deployed on South Ossetian soil".
EU-Russia talksEU-Russia talks
The conflict in the region began on 7 August when Georgia tried to retake South Ossetia by force after a series of lower-level clashes.The conflict in the region began on 7 August when Georgia tried to retake South Ossetia by force after a series of lower-level clashes.
Russia launched a counter-attack and the Georgian troops were ejected from both South Ossetia and Abkhazia several days later.Russia launched a counter-attack and the Georgian troops were ejected from both South Ossetia and Abkhazia several days later.
EU observers have already met Russian forces to discuss the planned withdrawal, Russia's defence ministry says. A Russian defence ministry spokesman, Lt Gen Nikolai Uvarov, said Russia had removed five checkpoints in the Poti area, near the Abkhaz border.
A ministry spokesman, Lt Gen Nikolai Uvarov, said Russia had removed five checkpoints in the Poti area, near the Abkhaz border.
Russia still has nine checkpoints in the zone around South Ossetia and three near Abkhazia, Russia's Ria Novosti news agency reports.Russia still has nine checkpoints in the zone around South Ossetia and three near Abkhazia, Russia's Ria Novosti news agency reports.
The EU observers are to be based in four field offices - in the capital Tbilisi, in Gori - just south of South Ossetia, in Zugdidi near the Abkhaz border and in the Black Sea port of Poti, Reuters news agency says.The EU observers are to be based in four field offices - in the capital Tbilisi, in Gori - just south of South Ossetia, in Zugdidi near the Abkhaz border and in the Black Sea port of Poti, Reuters news agency says.