KARALETI, Georgia - Russia pulled back its troops yesterday from buffer zones it set up on Georgian territory during a summer war, but Georgia demanded it take further steps before a deadline of tomorrow.
The Russian defence ministry said troops had removed all six of their checkpoints in the buffer zone around Georgia's rebel province of South Ossetia, ahead of the deadline stipulated by a French-brokered ceasefire deal.
Russian troops remain inside South Ossetia and a second pro-Russian breakaway region, Abkhazia, which Moscow has recognised as independent states and promised to protect. Troops were also seen pulling back from close to Abkhazia. - ( Reuters)