EU observers replace Russian troops in Georgia

01/10/2008 11:21:00

The move to replace Russian troops with more than 200 European Union observers is due to begin in Georgia on Wednesday as part of an EU-brokered peace plan.

Our Moscow correspondent, Scott Bevan, reports Russia has already imposed limits on the EU monitors.

The European Union monitoring mission is aimed at ensuring the peace deal between Georgia and Russia holds, after their conflict over the breakaway region of South Ossetia.

As part of the deal, at least 200 EU monitors are to move into buffer zones bordering South Ossetia and another rebel region, Abkhazia, and the Russian troops based there are to be pulled back by October 10.

Yet Moscow has said the EU monitors would not be allowed into the buffer zone around South Ossetia yet.

What's more, Russia has said the observers are not to enter South Ossetia and Abkhazia, which Moscow has controversially recognised as independent states.

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