Russia armour seen pulling back from Georgia

Russia declared it would pull its troops back behind a buffer zone skirting rebel South Ossetia by Friday, but Georgia's President said Moscow appeared determined to maintain its grip on Georgia.

A Reuters correspondent saw a column of Russian tanks, armoured personnel carriers and artillery moving across the border from Georgia into Russia.

"I can see 21 T-72 tanks moving towards the Roki tunnel in the direction of Russia," said the reporter at the tunnel, which is a few kilometres (miles) from the Georgian-Russian border and is the main access route for Russian forces.

"I can also see four Grad artillery launchers, several armoured personnel carriers, and heavy trucks ready to move into the tunnel," the reporter said.