Reports: Tbilisi Downsizes Peacekeeping Force in South Ossetia

Reports say the Georgian side has reduced the number of its peacekeeping contingent stationed in the conflict zone of breakaway South Ossetia.  The peacekeepers are part of the joint Georgian-Russian-Ossetian peacekeeping force.

The number of Georgian peacekeepers was downsized to 250 soldiers, a source in the Georgian Defense Ministry told Civil Georgia. Other unofficial reports indicate that the peacekeeping troops have been reduced to around 200 servicemen.

Officially, however, the Defense Ministry has declined to confirm this information. 

According to the agreement, each side ? the Georgian, Ossetian and Russian ? has the right to station up to 500 servicemen as a part of the joint peacekeeping forces in the conflict zone.