Georgian forces still in South Ossetia

Russian peacekeepers said that Georgian forces were still present in the breakaway province of South Ossetia despite Tbilisi's announcement that they had been withdrawn, Interfax news agency reported.

"Peacekeepers' posts monitor the presence of Georgian forces, artillery and armour," Interfax quoted Vladimir Ivanov, an aide to the Russian peacekeepers' commander, as saying by telephone fom Tskhinvali. "Georgia has not withdrawn forces from South Ossetia."

Earlier today a Georgian Interior Ministry official said Tbilisi had pulled out its forces from South Ossetia.