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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Russia 'starts Georgia pull-out' | Russia 'starts Georgia pull-out' |
| (8 minutes later) | |
| Russia says its troops are pulling back from a "buffer zone" around Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia. | Russia says its troops are pulling back from a "buffer zone" around Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia. |
| Russian forces were seen dismantling and leaving one checkpoint in the area. | Russian forces were seen dismantling and leaving one checkpoint in the area. |
| Moscow must pull its troops out of areas around South Ossetia and Abkhazia - another breakaway region in Georgia - by Friday under a ceasefire deal. | Moscow must pull its troops out of areas around South Ossetia and Abkhazia - another breakaway region in Georgia - by Friday under a ceasefire deal. |
| President Dmitry Medvedev said the pullout would be completed by midnight. Moscow has kept troops in the region since ousting Georgia's army in August. | President Dmitry Medvedev said the pullout would be completed by midnight. Moscow has kept troops in the region since ousting Georgia's army in August. |
| See a map of the region | See a map of the region |
| Speaking at a international security conference in France, Mr Medvedev also said that Russia wanted some 200 European Union observers in the area to "act as guarantors" to prevent any further hostilities. | Speaking at a international security conference in France, Mr Medvedev also said that Russia wanted some 200 European Union observers in the area to "act as guarantors" to prevent any further hostilities. |
| Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told the BBC's Tim Whewell in Moscow that Russia believes the EU monitors would ensure security in the buffer zones. | Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told the BBC's Tim Whewell in Moscow that Russia believes the EU monitors would ensure security in the buffer zones. |
| "This is a European Union matter. We trust them," he said. | "This is a European Union matter. We trust them," he said. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Pullout 'on track' | Pullout 'on track' |
| A number of Russian armoured personnel carriers were seen heading towards South Ossetia on Wednesday morning. | A number of Russian armoured personnel carriers were seen heading towards South Ossetia on Wednesday morning. |
| Russian minister on withdrawal | |
| The commander of Russian troops on the ground said the withdrawal from all six checkpoints would be completed by the end of the day. | The commander of Russian troops on the ground said the withdrawal from all six checkpoints 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 pull-back was agreed in a ceasefire deal brokered by French President Nicolas Sarkozy in early August. | The pull-back was agreed in a ceasefire deal brokered by French President Nicolas Sarkozy in early August. |
| But Moscow plans to keep nearly 8,000 troops in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which it has recognised as independent states. | But Moscow 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, but Russia has repeatedly refused to guarantee that. | 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. | 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. |
| Return to story | Return to story |