DW-World.de
Deutsche Welle

Russia has said it intends to keep 500 troops in a security zone surrounding Georgia's breakaway South Ossetia region amid growing criticism at the slow pace of Moscow's military withdrawal. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said up to eight checkpoints would be established in the security zone where 500 peacekeepers are to be deployed. Meanwhile the Pentagon has said it has seen "minimal movements" of Russian forces from Georgia, but no significant withdrawal. Germany has described Russia's progress as "very unsatisfactory". Russian military trucks have been seen leaving the Georgian city of Gori, but there was no sign of the large-scale pullout as reported earlier by Russian news agencies.