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| Russia removes Georgia checkpoint | Russia removes Georgia checkpoint |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Russian troops have removed a key checkpoint from Georgian territory near the breakaway province of South Ossetia, European Union observers say. | Russian troops have removed a key checkpoint from Georgian territory near the breakaway province of South Ossetia, European Union observers say. |
| The checkpoint, near the town of Gori, a gateway to the separatist region, is the first taken down by the Russians under a withdrawal pledge. | The checkpoint, near the town of Gori, a gateway to the separatist region, is the first taken down by the Russians under a withdrawal pledge. |
| Russia has agreed to pull out troops from two buffer zones within Georgia by 10 October, under EU observation. | Russia has agreed to pull out troops from two buffer zones within Georgia by 10 October, under EU observation. |
| Russia and Georgia fought a 10-day conflict over South Ossetia in August. | Russia and Georgia fought a 10-day conflict over South Ossetia in August. |
| See a map of the region | |
| Russia has kept troops in South Ossetia - and Georgia's other breakaway region, Abkhazia - since ousting Georgian forces during the conflict. EU OBSERVERS IN GEORGIA More than 200 unarmed observers from 22 EU nationsHQ in Tbilisi, with additional four field officesOversee Russia's pullout from "buffer zones" by 10 OctDeployed under a French-brokered peace dealMission's initial duration is 12 months | Russia has kept troops in South Ossetia - and Georgia's other breakaway region, Abkhazia - since ousting Georgian forces during the conflict. EU OBSERVERS IN GEORGIA More than 200 unarmed observers from 22 EU nationsHQ in Tbilisi, with additional four field officesOversee Russia's pullout from "buffer zones" by 10 OctDeployed under a French-brokered peace dealMission's initial duration is 12 months |
| Some 200 EU observers from 22 nations are now on the ground overseeing the military's compliance, or otherwise, with pledges made by leaders at the Kremlin. | |
| They reported the first signs of progress on Sunday morning. | They reported the first signs of progress on Sunday morning. |
| "Our observers went to the checkpoint in Ali, north-west of Gori, and saw that it has been dismantled," and EU spokesman told the AFP news agency. | "Our observers went to the checkpoint in Ali, north-west of Gori, and saw that it has been dismantled," and EU spokesman told the AFP news agency. |
| "This is the first dismantled checkpoint." | "This is the first dismantled checkpoint." |
| A regional police chief told Reuters the checkpoint was in the village of Nabakhtevi. | |
| Tensions | |
| The Russian pull-back was agreed in the ceasefire deal brokered by 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. | |
| 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, but Russia has repeatedly refused to guarantee that. | |
| The fighting 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 days later. | |
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