European observers say a ceasefire mission in Georgia has started smoothly.
The head of the EU mission, Hansjoerg Haber, said monitors had been allowed into Russian-controlled buffer zones around the breakaway provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia despite statements from Moscow that they would not immediately be let in. Under the terms of a French-brokered ceasefire, Russian troops are to withdraw from the buffer zones in Georgian territory by October 10. Russia says it will keep forces in South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Moscow recognised the two regions as independent states after Russian forces in August repelled a Georgian military effort to regain control of South Ossetia.
(Deutsche Russia to keep Georgian buffer zone ...
Georgia and Russia exchange prisoners ... Welle)
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