TBILISI, Georgia (AFP)--Russian forces have begun withdrawing from the flashpoint Georgian city of Gori and have promised to leave there by 1700 (1300 GMT), a senior Georgian official told AFP Friday.
"Russian General (Vyacheslav) Borisov told me that the Russians will leave Gori today by 1700 and that by 2000 they will be in Java (in South Ossetia)," Georgian National Security Council Secretary Alexander Lomaia said by telephone from Gori.
"I can confirm that the Russians have already abolished two checkpoints in Gori and that 13 Russian armored vehicles have left the city," he said.