Russia steps up preparations for Georgia pullout

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By MATT SIEGEL

TBILISI, Georgia (AP) — Russian forces stepped up preparations Monday to withdraw from bases and checkpoints surrounding two separatist regions in Georgia, four days ahead of a deadline closely watched by the West.

Moscow must pull back thousands of troops from buffer zones outside South Ossetia and Abkhazia by Friday under a deal brokered by French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Russia left troops in the areas after routing Georgia in an August war.

Heavy activity was observed at installations across Georgia — from around the central city of Gori, near South Ossetia, to Zugdidiin in the west, near Abkhazia on the Black Sea.

At a checkpoint in Kvenatkotsa, northwest of Gori, an Associated Press reporter saw Russian soldiers destroying nonessential equipment before lowering the Russian flag at an adjacent hillside base. Soldiers milled around near seven military transport vehicles brought in to haul out personnel and equipment.

Georgia's Interior Ministry confirmed that Russian forces were making preparations to pull out of at least eight posts across the country.

Maj. Gen. Marat Kulakhmetov, commander of the Russian peacekeepers in the Georgia-Ossetia conflict zone, told Russian news organizations that the six military posts to the south of South Ossetia would be removed within a day of the start of the withdrawal there.

"No problems are hindering the withdrawal of the observation posts from the southern limits of the security zone. The removal of material and of defense installations are proceeding simultaneously at all six observation posts," Kulakhmetov said, Interfax reported.

Kulakhmetov asked the European Union to ensure the presence of two EU military observers at each post at the time of withdrawal, Russian news agencies reported.

A spokesman for the EU monitoring mission declined comment, citing confidentiality rules related to the talks.

The cease-fire also calls for both sides to return troops to the positions they held before the fighting broke out — but Russia's announced plan to keep some 8,000 troops in the regions well exceeds the number reportedly there before the fighting began.

Russia recognized the independence of both South Ossetia and Abkhazia after the fighting.