UPDATED ON:
Friday, August 22, 2008
10:45 Mecca time, 07:45 GMT
 
News Europe
Russia 'begins Georgia withdrawal'

Russian troops control a Georgian military base in Senaki [AFP]

The deputy chief of staff of Russia's army has said that the withdrawal of forces from the conflict zone with Georgia has begun.

General Anatoly Nogovitsyn's announcement followed a statement on Sunday by Dmitry Medvedev, Russia's president, that Russia would begin the pullout from noon local time on Monday.

Nogovitsyn told a news conference in Moscow that "according to the peace plan, the withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers and reinforcements has begun".

The general said that Russian forces were leaving Gori and pulling back to South Ossetia and security zone defined by a 1999 agreement.

However, Georgia's foreign ministry accused Russia of violating the ceasefire by continuing military operations and failing to withdraw its troops.

Map

 

Key locations in the conflict

"The Russian side is gravely violating the conditions provided for by the peace accord signed by the presidents of Georgia, France and the Russian Federation," it said in a statement.

The ministry cited new operations by Russia on Monday, including the re-occupation of a military base in Senaki in the west of the country where explosions were heard.

It also accused Russia of a "persistent delay in the withdrawal of its forces from Georgia".

Shota Utiashvili, Georgia's interior ministry spokesman, said that Russian forces had blown up the runway.

Tanks and armoured personnel carriers could also be seen moving freely around the strategically important city of Gori, about 60km from the capital Tbilisi, and Russian troops were controlling access.

Withdrawal commitment

The United States on Monday called on Russia to withdraw its forces from Georgia "without delay".

"If it [Russia] rolled in after August 6th, it needs to roll out," Gordon Johndroe, a White House spokesman, said. "That would be in keeping with the Russian commitment on withdrawal."

Russian tanks and armoured personnel carriers rolled into the breakaway Georgian region of South Ossetia on August 7 after the government in Tbilisi ordered a bombardment in an attempt to reassert its control.

A French-drafted six-point peace pact requires all forces in Georgia to withdraw to positions held prior to the conflict.

Sergey Ryabkov, Russia's deputy foreign minister, told Al Jazeera on Monday that his country was adhering to the ceasefire.

"We are fulfilling our obligations to the very last letter. All the briefings which our general staff give simply show we are very, very sincere in our intentions," he said.

"We definitely need to see the situation on the ground is secured and this will require Russian peacekeeping forces.

"I am not going to pour gas on the fire. I am only asking that the leadership in Tbilisi do not show anymore provocation. At the moment we see a distinct lack of this."

Missile deployment

Meanwhile, a US defence official said Russia had moved short-range SS-21 missiles into South Ossetia, possibly putting Tbilisi, the Georgian capital, in range.

Medvedev hailed the 'heroes' of the military operation in Georgia [AFP]
Nazanine Moshiri, Al Jazeera's correspondent on the North Ossetian, South Ossetian border, said: "There were reports on Friday that SS-21 missiles are now deployed on the outskirts of Tskhinvali [the South Ossetian capital]. There is no sign of a withdrawal here."

Nogovitsyn disputed the claim, saying Russia "sees no necessity" to place SS-21s in the region.

In Vladikavkaz, near the border with South Ossetia, Medvedev gave medals to 30 soldiers and servicemen involved in the conflict.

"It has been only 10 days since you faced a cowardly aggression," he said, standing on a drill square in front of soldiers and officers he called "heroes".

"I am sure that such a well-done, effective and peacemaking operation aimed at protecting our citizens and other people will be among the most glorious deeds of the Russian military."

Nato meeting

Meanwhile, Condoleezza Rice, the US secretary of state, arrived in Brussels to meet Nato allies to discuss the situarion in Georgia and the alliance's dealing with Russia. 

Nato foreign ministers will meet on Tuesday, at Washington's request, to seek a common position on the Georgia situation and reaffirm their solidarity with Tbilisi.

Rice has accused Moscow of using "disproportionate force" against its neighbour, whose hopes to joining the military alliance have angered Russia.

She will continue on to Warsaw later Tuesday where she will sign a deal on installing a missile defense shield pact with Poland, a move sure to further increase tensions with Russia.

The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) said on Monday that it had failed to agree on whether to send observers to Georgia but insisted that discussions were continuing. 

"No agreement has been reached so far. Consultations are continuing" said Aleksi Harkonen, the representative of the OSCE's Finnish chairmanship. 

The lack of agreement was largely due to the Russian delegation, Harkonen said, speaking of "the people who are actually in control of those areas" hit by the conflict in South Ossetia.

 Source: Al Jazeera and agencies
Feedback Number of comments : 9
 
btinsky
Azerbaijan
18/08/2008
qt: "Georgians should be very afraid indeed..." Just like Germany and Japan...

Jingo
United States
19/08/2008
Are the Russians Lost?
How dare the Ruskies invade a sovereign country? The US would never do such a thing. Now that the US has demanded Russian forces leave Georgia and they are slow in doing so, we can only assume they cannot find there way back. Therefore, as part of the aid package to the region, we will be sending maps and compasses to the invading soldiers. If the Ruskies still refuse to leave, President Bush will have no choice but to hold his breath and stamp his feet some more. Be warned Medvedev!

Joe
Australia
19/08/2008
US vs. Russia
I find it so hypocritical that the so called free world condemns Russia and urges it to withdraw from Georgia. Why not the same reaction when the self proclaimed righteous US invaded another sovereign country (Iraq) almost six years ago. Shame on Germany and France and all the rest for not taking the same stance back then.

Saratov
United States
19/08/2008
If you play with fire, you’re gonna get burned
Kosovo has around 2 million people 90% Albanian. N.Mirtovica (Region) has 60 000 people 90% Serbian (Self Governed and Autonom). Georgia has around 4 million people 90% Georgian. S.Ossetia (Region) has 70000 people 90% Ossetian (Self Governed and Autonom). If Kosovo will invade N.Mitrovica will face the Mighty Serbian Army. Kosovars are not Making this mistake because they “know very well their self and the enemy”. Georgian didn’t know “their self and the enemy” and were succumbed.

Ayub
Afghanistan
18/08/2008
Why not stay instead.
The Russians should make sure the georgians doesn't make that mistake again.It should be a warning to poland,ukraine and any other US lapdogs who wants to help the US build the missile defence system.I can't seem to understand how the general public are fooled and deceived by their govts.The politicians are corrupt and make a few bucks from the US and sell their souls literally.The entire world is being robbed of it's resources by the US and the west and nobody sees that?..Rise up people,now.

Jack
New Zealand (Aotearoa)
18/08/2008
The US is promising massive humanitarian aid to help Georgia rebuild after Russia's onslaught. If the "reconstruction" of Iraq is anything to go by, the Georgians should be very afraid indeed...

Devizes
Seychelles
18/08/2008
Russia with it's imperialist view of its neighbours thinks it has the right to subordinate and humiliate them. Russia is ruled by gangsters, thieves, murderers and tyrants. They need to be stopped by force not appeased! I look forward to America showing the Russians what the superiority of American military can do against the Russian forces.

todd
Afghanistan
18/08/2008
georgia
Once again the idiots of the world are decieved by their irrational hatred of america. How did russia get so much hardware there so quick? Why are not we hearing any indepth news comming from that region? Read between the lines(idiots all).

mohit bishnoi
India
19/08/2008
russian aggression
in simple words russia has to right to protect its interest in his region as USA doing in whole over the world in the name of terror. why the world ignore it .

 
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