Russian Troops Almost Out Of Georgia

[nhboy (Premo)]

Russia Pulls Out Of Key Georgian Areas

"GORI, Georgia — Columns of hulking, smoke-belching Russian tanks rolled out of key positions deep inside Georgia Friday as Moscow declared it had pulled its forces out following the worst confrontation between the Kremlin and the West since the Soviet collapse. But the United States, France and Britain protested the withdrawal was not complete.

Georgians exulted in a new sense of freedom as the Russian troops departed.

Outside Igoeti, the closest Russians got to the capital of Tbilisi, Georgian police in a convoy of cars and pickup trucks pumped their fists and waved white-and-red national flags as they trailed behind two Russian tanks pulling out ahead of them.

"How can we not be happy? We've gotten what we want," said Levan, 77, a math teacher in the strategically located central city of Gori, farther up Georgia's main east-west highway, who would give only his first name. "We're overjoyed to see our own police on our streets again."

An Associated Press reporter saw what may have been the last convoy of Russian armored vehicles leave Gori shortly after 5 p.m. Friday. The six vehicles drove off after soldiers fired on a disabled armored personnel carrier, perhaps not to leave any working equipment behind for the Georgians to seize."

Russia Pulls Out Of Key Georgian Areas

[ImnoMensa]

I suppose they are happy to see the Soviets leave, but I wouldn't be too happy to know they can return any time they wish, and Georgia cant stop them.