Russian troops maintain grip on western Georgia

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2008

SENAKI, Georgia (AFP) — Russian troops, helicopters and tanks roamed around the west of Georgia on Sunday despite a ceasefire agreement that Georgia says requires Russian forces to withdraw.

Russian military movements were witnessed by an AFP reporter far beyond Abkhazia, a Moscow-backed region where Russian troops are based to support anti-Georgian rebels.

Russian soldiers were seen on a Georgian military base in Telati, near Senaki, on Sunday afternoon and four helicopters including two gunships flew over the area.

Four tanks moved from the area towards the Black Sea port city of Poti, 30 kilometres west of Senaki at around midday (0800 GMT), an AFP reporter witnessed.

The forces performed the manoeuvre "as they have every day since they arrived a...