Notice: Undefined index: diario_lector_id in /var/www/diarios_v2/index.php on line 303 Russia 'begins Georgia handover' - Noticia - - People Three - English Channel
Russian troops are handing over control of the area around the town of Gori to Georgian forces, officials say.The move would be evidence of Moscow's compliance with the terms of a truce to end a week of conflict with Georgia.But a Russian general in the area said Moscow's troops would remain nearby for several days, apparently to remove weaponry and unexploded ordnance.Georgia launched an attack on the rebel region of South Ossetia from Gori and the town has remained a key flashpoint.Russian troops headed towards the town after they moved against Georgian forces in South Ossetia, sparking a rapid retreat by Georgian forces and civilians on Monday.Gori has also come under air attack, with reports of Russian planes bombing the town after Moscow declared an end to its military operation on Tuesday.And sightings of a column of Russian armoured vehicles moving close to the town on Wednesday raised concerns that the Kremlin would not make a quick withdrawal from Georgian territory, despite agreeing to a European peace plan.Overnight, the US secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, urged Moscow to meet its own pledge to pull troops out of Georgia altogether.
