SOPHIKO MEGRILIDZE, NADARBAZEVI

Russian troops began dismantling positions yesterday in the so-called security zones inside Georgia they have occupied since August's brief but intense war.

The moves came as Russia faces a deadline on Friday for pulling back its troops under a deal brokered by France on behalf of the EU. Hundreds of EU observers began monitoring Russia's compliance with the pact last week.

Russia and Georgia went to war after Georgia launched a massive barrage on the capital of South Ossetia, one of two Georgian separatist regions where Russia has troops stationed as peacekeepers. Russian forces then declared what it called a security zone about four miles deep inside Georgia south of South Ossetia and the other separatist region, Abkhazia.

The agreement obliges Russia to pull its troops out of the zones by Friday, but Russia says it plans to keep thousands of troops in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Russia recognised the independence of both regions after the fighting, a moved denounced by Georgia and the West. Only Nicaragua and the Hamas government in Gaza have followed suit with recognition.

Troops yesterday lowered the flag at a Russian base in Nadarbazevi, 30 miles north-west of the capital, Tbilisi. Interior Ministry spokesman Shota Utiashvili described the position as a communications centre and said Russia had promised to leave it by today.

Utiashvili also said a checkpoint in Ali, in the zone around South Ossetia, was dismantled yesterday and that Russian forces were leaving another position in Zugdidi, in the zone south of Abkhazia.

A spokesman for the EU monitoring mission confirmed the Ali checkpoint was being taken down.

"We have to see how it ends, but so far this is a good sign," Utiashvili said.

Georgian and EU officials could not clarify how many Russian positions would have to be dismantled to comply with the agreement. After the war, Russia said it would set up 36 checkpoints in the security zones.-AP