GORI, Georgia (AFP)--A column of Russian armored vehicles pulled away from the Georgian city of Gori headed for Russia on Tuesday following orders for a withdrawal, an AFP reporter witnessed.
Georgia's Interior Ministry dismissed the maneuver as a "show" and insisted Russian forces were remaining.
"This is one of the first columns to leave Georgia," a Russian officer told journalists as seven armored vehicles, three tanks and other Russian army vehicles moved along a road 15 kilometers south of Gori.
Journalists saw a lieutenant colonel order the column, carrying 120 soldiers, to move to the Moscow-backed rebel city of Tskhinvali then on to the Russian city of Vladikavkaz.
The maneuver came after Western powers demanded Russia immediately withdraw its forces in accordance with a French-brokered peace plan.
Georgia has accused Russia's military of dragging its feet, while the Russian side has accused Georgia's military of not withdrawing to its bases, as foreseen under the peace plan.
The maneuver shown by the Russian military to journalists Tuesday was dismissed by a spokesman for the Georgian Interior Ministry as a "show aimed at creating the illusion of a withdrawal."
Russian infantry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said similar withdrawals of Russian arms and soldiers were being taking place in several locations in Georgia.
"Soldiers are currently withdrawing in various other places," Konashenkov said.
He said the withdrawal had been carefully planned but would take longer than the Russian army's original surge into Georgia on Aug. 8 for "logistical reasons.
"Our ammunition, medicines, have to be correctly loaded with everything checked," he said.
In Gori itself a short while before, two Russian armored vehicles were still posted on the central Stalin Avenue and residents said they were unaware of any withdrawal plans