Russian official: Georgian troop pullout under way

[August 18, 2008]  MOSCOW (AP) -- The deputy chief of staff of Russia's military says the withdrawal of forces from the conflict zone with Georgia has begun.

The statement by Col.-Gen. Anatoly Nogovitsyn came amid uncertainty about whether Russia was fulfilling President Dmitry Medvedev's promise to begin the pullout Monday. Earlier in the day, Russian forces around the strategically key Georgian city of Gori had shown no sign of moving away and even appeared to be solidifying their positions.

But Nogovitsyn told a briefing that "today, according to the peace plan, the withdrawal of Rusian peacekeepers and reinforcements has begun."

[Associated Press]

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