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Russian Troops on Move As Deadline Passes

Posted on: Monday, 18 August 2008, 09:00 CDT

U.S. intelligence reports the Russian military moved short-range missile launchers to South Ossetia as the deadline for troop withdrawal from Georgia passed.

Intelligence officials told ABC News that Russian troops deployed several SS-21 missile launchers to locations north of Tskhinvali, the South Ossetian capital. From those positions in the province, the missiles can reach much of Georgia, including Tbilisi, the capital.

In addition, officials in Abkhazia, another breakaway province, said they will begin deploying troops along the province's border with Georgia, reported RIA Novosti, the Russian news agency.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, facing demands for speedy withdrawal from the European Union and Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili, said Sunday Russian troops would pull back to a security zone set in 1999 by the Joint Control Commission. The JCC is an international body created to monitor tensions between ethnic Georgians and Ossetians, The New York Times reported.

Medvedev pledged to abide by the terms of a ceasefire brokered to end a week of fighting in Georgia and South Ossetia.

Russia's pledge to withdraw troops was met with skepticism by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, the Times said.

"Well, I just know that the Russian president said several days ago Russian military operations would stop. They didn't," Rice said on NBC's "Meet the Press" Sunday. "This time I hope he means it. You know the word of the Russian president needs to be upheld by his forces."

Source: United Press International

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