The United States reiterated its call for Russian withdrawal from Georgia "without delay" on Monday.
"The Russians have said that their withdrawal would start at midday today .... This is something that should be achieved without delay," U.S. National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe told reporters when President George W. Bush is spending time on his Crawford ranch, Texas.
Johndroe declined to confirm reports that Russia will deploy SS-21 missiles in South Ossetia, a breakaway region of Georgia. "I'm not going to comment specifically on what Russian units or equipment are in the area right now."
"But let me be clear: If it rolled in after August 6, it needs to roll out. That would be in keeping with the Russians' commitment on withdrawal," the spokesman noted.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed a French-brokered peace plan Saturday, and said that Russia will start withdrawing its forces Monday.
The United States has welcomed the Russian move, and urged Russia to respect Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty. Georgia's pro-Western government has been a strong U.S. ally.
Source:Xinhua
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