A Georgian official says Russia has fulfilled its commitment to withdraw forces from several positions in western Georgia. Security Council chief Alexander Lomaia says the Russians pulled out of posts in the Black Sea port of Poti and other nearby areas on Saturday. He says about 250 soldiers and more than 20 armored vehicles left for the separatist Abkhazia province, according to a report of the Associated Press. Russia had promised to withdraw from the positions by Monday under an agreement reached last week with French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Russia should withdraw all forces from Georgian territory outside Abkhazia and separatist South Ossetia by next month. Lomaia says about 1,200 Russian troops remain on Georgian territory outside the separatist regions.
