Russian General says forces withdrawing from Georgia

Gori: Russian forces have started to pull out of Georgia, Russian Major-General Vyachislav Borisov said on Sunday.

"The columns are moving from Tskhinvali to Russia," he said. "[Russian President Dmitry] Medvedev has said we are to withdraw."

"You must understand there are a large amount of troops," he said.

Russia's defence ministry, however, said no pullback had begun and the general might be referring to preparations.

A Georgian official, however, said the Russian soldiers had not withdrawn but had instead redeployed around central Georgian cities.

Kakha Lomaia, secretary of the Georgian security council, said that some of the Russian force occupying Gori had been redeployed to the towns of Khashuri and Akhalgori.

"The TV centre in Gori has been blown up and they are now broadcasting Russian radio," he said.