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Russia announces troop withdrawal Monday

MOSCOW, Aug. 17 (UPI) -- The Kremlin Sunday said Russian troops would begin withdrawing from neighboring Georgia Monday -- two days after a negotiated ceasefire.

The Kremlin statement did not give specifics on the withdrawal other than to say Russian troops would start moving toward the separatist region of South Ossetia and what it termed as a "security zone," The New York Times reported Sunday.

Russian President Dmitri Medvedev and French President Nicolas Sarkozy discussed how to "realize in practice" the framework of the truce, The Times said.

Sarkozy reportedly warned Medvedev of "serious consequences" for Russia-European Union relations if Russia failed to comply with terms spelled out in the truce, The Times said.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice voiced concern Saturday that Russia was not meeting the terms of the ceasefire agreement brokered by Sarkozy.

"From my point of view, and I'm in contact with the French, the Russians are perhaps already not honoring their word," she said.

Tropical Storm Fay prompts Fla. evacuation

MIAMI, Aug. 17 (UPI) -- Meteorologists advised tourists in the Florida Keys to evacuate the region as Tropical Storm Fay advanced Sunday.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami said Fay could turn into a hurricane by the time it reaches the Keys early Monday. A hurricane watch was posted for as far north as Naples, Fla.

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist declared a state of emergency, warning the system could became "a major disaster."

At 11 a.m. EDT, Fay was about 75 miles south-southeast of Camaguey, Cuba, and 350 miles southeast of Key West, Fla., Accuweather.com reported.

The storm was moving west-northwest at about 13 mph packing winds near 50 mph with higher gusts, weather officials said.

The storm has been blamed for at least three deaths in the Dominican Republic. A woman and her children were killed when their car was swept away by flood waters, Listin Diario reported.

In Haiti, one death was reported, and one person was missing.

Bombing kills 10 Afghan policemen

KABUL, Afghanistan, Aug. 17 (UPI) -- At least 10 Afghan police officers died in a roadside bombing in southern Afghanistan Sunday, a provincial official said.

Kandahar Provincial Police Chief Brig. Gen. Matiullah said the explosion in the Shah Wali Kot district was most likely the work of Taliban forces, the Kuwait News Agency, KUNA, reported.

No group has claimed responsibility for the blast, KUNA said.

In other action Sunday, U.S.-led coalition troops said they killed several insurgents just north of Kabul as part of an anti-militant operation.

A civilian female was injured during the gun battle initiated by the militants as coalition troops approached their compound, the military said.

Israel to free 200 Palestinian prisoners

JERUSALEM, Aug. 17 (UPI) -- Israel's cabinet voted Sunday to release 200 Palestinian prisoners at the urging of outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

Olmert agreed to the prisoner release earlier this month as a goodwill gesture after talks with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, and the Israeli cabinet codified the deal with a 16-4 vote, a source told CNN.

Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat told the broadcaster the prisoner release was set for Aug. 25.

Jailed Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti would not be among the among freed prisoners, CNN said.

Olmert has announced his plans to resign as prime minister in September.