Russian claim that 'pull-back' has begun disputed

GEORGIAN AND US officials yesterday disputed Russian claims that Moscow had begun what it called "a pull-back, not a pull-out" from parts of Georgia, as required by the six-point peace plan signed by Russia on Saturday.

In a sign of further escalation, the Pentagon said Russia has deployed SS-21 missiles, with sufficient range to strike the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, in the pro-Russian breakaway enclave of South Ossetia.

In a telephone conversation with President Nicolas Sarkozy on Sunday, the Russian president, Dmitry Medvedev, promised that the withdrawal would start by noon yesterday. Col Gen Anatoly Novogitsyn asserted in Moscow that the pull-back had started.

After the noon deadline passed, I drove up the national highway, three-quarters of the way from Tbilisi to the strategic town of Gori. There was no evidence that Russian troops were leaving, and they seemed to be settling in for a long stay.

The first Russian checkpoint is at Igoeti, 100m (330ft) beyond the last Georgian police checkpoint. A Russian tank and armoured personnel carrier are dug in and camouflaged on the hill above the checkpoint. Russian military lorries plied the highway in both directions. In the river ravine to the north of the highway, I saw a Russian encampment with tents and a cooking area. Soldiers lazed about, talking and smoking cigarettes, and there was no sign of departure. The Russians have defaced or removed many road signs.

At the turn-off to the village of Khurvaleti, two tanks flew Russian flags from their antenae. A woman with bleached blonde hair, high-heeled shoes and a filmy chiffon dress got out of a car, spoke to the soldiers in Russian and embraced an officer. Her car was allowed through the checkpoint.

Journalists were allowed to go no further. A third tank arrived in a cloud of dust from a nearby encampment, apparently with orders for us leave. Russian soldiers walked towards journalists, holding assault rifles across their chests and scowling.

Russia may be prolonging its stay in Georgia in retaliation for last week's accord on the deployment of a missile defence system in Poland.

Western leaders, including George W Bush and Mr Sarkozy, have repeatedly warned of "serious consquences" if Russia does not fulfil its promise to pull out, but Russia seems to ignore diplomatic pressure.

In Tbilisi, President Mikheil Saakashvili went on state television to attack Russia for "senselessly looting, robbing, stealing, destroying and blowing things up".

Then, in an unprecedented conciliatory tone, he added, "I appeal to you that after your armed forces leave Georgian territory, to start serious thinking and discussions about further negotiations, a further search for ways [to conduct] relations in order not to sow discord between our countries for good."

Mr Medvedev flew to Vladikavkaz, near South Ossetia, to decorate 30 soldiers who have participated in the war with Georgia.

"Russia is proud of each one of you," Mr Medvedev said. "Thank you for your courage, for protecting civilians, for standing in the way of those who brought death to the people of South Ossetia . . . What the Georgian authorities did is beyond human understanding and cannot be forgiven or left unpunished."

Alluding to Mr Saakashvili, Mr Medvedev referred to "political freaks who are ready to kill innocent people for their political reasons".

The six-point peace plan brokered by Mr Sarkozy last week foresees a prompt withdrawal of Russian forces from "core Georgia" - the areas outside South Ossetia and the other Russian-backed separatist province of Abkhazia - though Moscow is permitted to patrol a "security buffer" zone pending the arrival of international monitors.

No arrangements have yet been made for sending international monitors, though diplomats here say the rapid dispatch of observers is one of few concrete measures the West could take. Moscow insists that Russia be included in any monitoring or peacekeeping arrangement. US officials say Russia must not be allowed to participate.