Posted on 08/22/2008 6:56:22 AM PDT by maquiladora
Russian troops have left the key Georgian town of Gori and are pulling out from surrounding areas, a senior Georgian official said.
National Security Council official Kakha Lomaia did not specify whether Russian troops had removed checkpoints on Georgia's main east-west highway skirting the town.
"I can officially confirm that Russian troops have left Gori and are leaving areas around Gori," he said.
Russian troops pushed into Georgia this month after pouring over the Russian border to repel an offensive by Georgian troops aimed at retaking South Ossetia's separatist capital, Tskhinvali.
Mr Lomaia said earlier that the Russian commander in Gori had promised his troops would leave the town by the evening.
The withdrawal was welcomed by Georgians who watched the troops depart.
"It's such a relief," said Valiko, a 68-year-old Georgian man, as a convoy of 10 armoured personnel carriers rumbled past him on its way to South Ossetia and eventually the Russian border.
"I was waiting for this day and finally I see the Russians leaving my home town," he said. "I'm so happy."
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
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