Georgia and Russia have agreed to pull all armed forces, except peacekeeping troops, out of the conflict zone in Georgia's separatist South Ossetia region.

The agreement was signed by Russian Chief of General Staff Yury Baluyevsky and visiting Georgian Defense Minister Giorgi Baramidze while fighting broke out again between Tbilisi and South Ossetia.

Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili will issue orders to ensure a simultaneous and parallel withdrawal of armed forces.

Georgian Defence Minister said the deployment of peacekeepers in South Ossetia was necessary to maintain peace in the volatile region.

The South Ossetian authorities have yet to comment on the move.

South Ossetia won de facto independence in a separatist war that ended in 1992. It has repeatedly refused to bow to the Georgian government and has sought to become part of Russia.

Tension has remained high between Tbilisi and South Ossetia since late May over the status of the breakaway region.

Georgia accuses Russia of backing the two renegade regions while Russia has called for the settlement of the crisis by peaceful means.

Relations between the two Caucasus neighbors became increasingly strained recently over the dispute and Baramidze's visit to Moscow was aimed at soothing the soured ties.

Baluyevsky said Russia and Georgia signed a joint protocol Wednesday on the handover of Russian military facilities in Georgia which is seen as part of the military cooperation pledged by both sides.

Russia also offered to help train 243 Georgian officers.

(CRI August 12, 2004)