Russia Signs Ceasefire Deal But Troops Stay in Georgia

Russia's president Dimitry Medvedev yesterday signed a ceasefire agreement to end the bloody 10-day-old war in Georgia, but gave no clear indication of when he would begin to withdraw Russian troops.

In a snub to the United States, which has demanded that Moscow remove its armed forces from Georgia immediately, Medvedev said the Russian military would remain inside Georgia until 'extra security measures' were in place.

Russia's Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, gave no timetable for a pullout. He said Moscow would withdraw once security measures had been carried out in the conflict zone - the breakaway enclaves of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

Last night, US President George Bush cautiously welcomed Russia's apparent commitment. He described the ceasefire deal, also signed by Georgia's President, Mikheil Saakashvili on Friday, as a 'helpful step'. Bush reaffirmed his commitment to Georgia's battered territorial integrity, saying that the issue was not up for debate.

Britain's Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, also praised the latest move, but said he was 'concerned' by reports of continuing Russian military action.

Russian troops last night appeared to be pulling slowly out of their forward positions. They left the town of Igoeti, about 48km from Tbilisi, in the afternoon. But they remain in at least half of the country - including the central towns of Gori and Khashuri, the western cities of Senaki and Zugdidi, and the Black Sea port of Poti. Reports last night from Georgia's foreign ministry said Russian-backed separatists from Abkhazia had taken over 13 villages in Georgia and a power plant.

Yesterday Georgia claimed Russia was still destroying its civilian and military infrastructure. It said Russian soldiers had blown up a railway line near the town of Kaspi, outside Tbilisi - severing the last railway link between the east and west of the country. Moscow denied this.

Russian military helicopters also attacked Borjomi national park - setting fire to huge areas of protected forest, Georgian officials said. Borjomi, a popular spa town since Tsarist times, is home to endangered species, including bears.

Medvedev signed yesterday's agreement in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi, 20km from the border with Abkhazia, Georgia's second breakaway province. Analysts said that they expected Russia to absorb Abkhazia and South Ossetia into the Russian Federation - possibly within days. Both territories are likely to hold referendums calling for a formal association with Russia.

The six-point ceasefire agreement, which was drafted by France's President Nicolas Sarkozy in his role as EU president, authorizes Russia to carry out 'additional security measures on a temporary basis' until an international peacekeeping force arrives in Georgia. This requires a UN resolution.

There are growing claims of atrocities committed by irregular militias, to which the Russian forces are accused of turning a blind eye. The Observer has witnessed half a dozen assaults and robberies of civilians and journalists by mercenaries in the past five days.