Georgia Hands Over Strategic Heights to Joint Peacekeepers, Pulls Out Extra Troops

Georgian troops handed over strategic hilltops in the South Ossetian conflict zone to the joint peacekeeping forces, involving Georgian, Russian and Ossetian troops, late on August 19.

The heights, which overlook Georgian villages as well as key positions of the South Ossetian militias, were taken over by Georgian troops after a three-hour long fight early on August 19.

Georgian officials say that they have already launched a pull out of extra troops in the conflict zone as ordered by President Saakashvili on August 19, in a bid, as the President put it, ?to give a last chance for peace.?

?These extra troops will be deployed in Gori [town in central Georgia, some 15 km away from the separatists? capital Tskhinvali]. And in case of further shelling of the Georgian villages these troops will be sent back to the region, directly to Tskhinvali,? Georgian Interior Minister Irakli Okruashvili told Tbilisi-based Imedi television late on August 19.

According to the Georgian side?s decision, only those 500 Georgian soldiers which are the part of the joint peacekeeping forces will remain in the conflict zone.

Commander of the Russian peacekeeping forces Maj.-Gen. Svyatoslav Nabdzorov welcomed President Saakashvili?s decision to let the joint peacekeeping troops monitor the strategic heights, from which, according to the Georgian side, the South Ossetian militias and mercenaries were shelling the Georgian villages.

?President Saakashvili made a really good decision,? he told Georgian reporters.

The South Ossetian has yet to make a comment regarder the heights? handover or the withdrawal of the Georgian troops.

Last night was relatively calm in the conflict zone as no shots were heard in the breakaway region.