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Russians 'leave Georgian areas' Russians 'leave Georgian areas'
(about 3 hours later)
Georgia says Russian troops have left "buffer zones" inside its territory adjacent to its breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.Georgia says Russian troops have left "buffer zones" inside its territory adjacent to its breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
Moscow has not confirmed the move but President Dmitry Medvedev said the pullback would be complete by midnight, well ahead of a Friday deadline.Moscow has not confirmed the move but President Dmitry Medvedev said the pullback would be complete by midnight, well ahead of a Friday deadline.
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said European Union observers would be excluded from the disputed regions. Russia's foreign minister said an EU mission monitoring the pullout would be excluded from the disputed regions.
Russia will post nearly 8,000 troops in South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Russia plans to keep nearly 8,000 troops in South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
Moscow has kept troops in the region since ousting Georgia's army in August. Moscow has maintained a military presence in the region since ousting Georgia's army in August.
Russia has recognised Georgia's two breakaway regions as independent states - a move which has drawn strong condemnation from Georgia and Western leaders.Russia has recognised Georgia's two breakaway regions as independent states - a move which has drawn strong condemnation from Georgia and Western leaders.
'Guarantors''Guarantors'
Georgia's interior ministry spokesman Shota Utiashvili said: "We can confirm that from the so-called buffer zones the withdrawal is complete."Georgia's interior ministry spokesman Shota Utiashvili said: "We can confirm that from the so-called buffer zones the withdrawal is complete."
See a map of the region See a map of the region
Speaking earlier at an international security conference in France, Mr Medvedev said Russia wanted some 200 EU observers in the area to "act as guarantors" to prevent any further hostilities.Speaking earlier at an international security conference in France, Mr Medvedev said Russia wanted some 200 EU observers in the area to "act as guarantors" to prevent any further hostilities.
Mr Lavrov told the BBC that Russia believes the EU monitors would ensure security in the buffer zones. On the sidelines of the gathering, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said his Russian counterpart had "kept his word" over Georgia.
"This is a European Union matter. We trust them," he said. Mr Sarkozy, who brokered the peace deal in early August, warned that both Russia and Georgia "must now refrain from any provocation on the ground".
However, Mr Lavrov said that EU monitors would not be allowed to deploy in the two breakaway regions where Russia plans to maintain an 8,000-strong force. Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told the BBC that Russia "trusted" that the EU monitors would ensure security in the buffer zones.
However, Mr Lavrov said that EU monitors - deployed last week - would not be allowed into the two breakaway regions where Russia plans to maintain a 7,600-strong force.
Pullout 'on track'Pullout 'on track'
A number of Russian armoured personnel carriers were seen heading towards South Ossetia earlier on Wednesday. The BBC's James Rodgers, who has been travelling around Georgia, says journalists were brought from both the South Ossetian and Georgian sides to witness the Russian withdrawal.
He described it as a media event as well as a military operation.
In the Georgian village of Karaleti, he says, the withdrawal went according to plan.
A bulldozer levelled the land where a Russian position had stood and the soil was then carefully swept with metal detectors to lessen the risk of some deadly remnant of war, he says.
Our correspondent says he was then taken to watch the withdrawing columns pass - tanks, armoured personnel carriers and lorries carrying troops.
Russia's foreign minister on the withdrawalRussia's foreign minister on the withdrawal
The commander of Russian troops on the ground said military personnel had already withdrawn from five out of the six checkpoints in the area, and that the process would be completed by the end of the day. Earlier, the commander of Russian troops on the ground said the process would be completed by the end of the day.
"Everything is completely on track. Everything will be noted and registered in documents," Maj Gen Marat Kulakhmetov said."Everything is completely on track. Everything will be noted and registered in documents," Maj Gen Marat Kulakhmetov said.
The BBC's Mark Mardell, who is in Giro in Georgia, said he saw a convoy of three lorries, three tanks and an armoured vehicle roll out of one checkpoint. The BBC's Mark Mardell, who is in Giro in Georgia, said that as soon as the Russians were gone the Georgians came in - one man and his boy put a Georgian flag up on the post where they had been.
As soon as they were gone the Georgians came in - one man and his small boy put a Georgian flag up on the post where they had been, our correspondent said. One Georgian man told Reuters news agency: "We will return to our homes as there will be nothing to be scared of... our army and police will be there. Everything will be fine."
The pull-back was agreed in a ceasefire deal brokered by French President Nicolas Sarkozy in early August. 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 with Russian-backed rebels.
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.Russia launched a counter-attack and the Georgian troops were ejected from both South Ossetia and Abkhazia days later.
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Are you in Georgia? Have you noticed the departure of Russian troops from your area? Please send your comment using the form below:Are you in Georgia? Have you noticed the departure of Russian troops from your area? Please send your comment using the form below:
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