Georgia starts South Ossetia pullout

It is handing over control to a joint peacekeeping force composed of Russian, Ossetian and Georgian soldiers.

Georgian leader Mikhail Saakashvili said the withdrawal was the "last chance for peace" in the region.

Separatist South Ossetian fighters have been battling Georgian soldiers in the worst violence there in 10 years.

Heavy shelling and skirmishes are said to have claimed the lives of at least seven Georgian soldiers recently.

The Georgian authorities say their troops killed eight South Ossetian fighters in the latest overnight fighting. The claim has not been confirmed.

Russia has fiercely criticised Georgian advances in the area.

Efforts are now under way to enforce a ceasefire deal struck last Friday and steadily violated since then.

South Ossetia broke away from Georgia in 1992 following an 18-month conflict. Many of its inhabitants want to link up with North Ossetia, which is part of Russia.