Russia pulls back from Georgia checkpoint

GORI, Georgia, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- Russian troops have pulled back from a key checkpoint in Georgian territory near the breakaway province of South Ossetia, European Union officials say.

The checkpoint near the town of Gori is considered a gateway to South Ossetia, EU monitors told the BBC Sunday. It is the first such checkpoint taken down since Russia pledged to remove troops from buffer zones surrounding the breakaway Georgian republic.

Some 200 EU observers from 22 nations are stationed on the ground overseeing Russia's compliance with an Oct. 10 deadline for the troops' removal. They reported the first signs of progress Sunday morning, the broadcaster said.

The Russian pullback from buffer zones within Georgian territory was agreed in the cease-fire deal brokered by French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Russia, however, plans to keep nearly 8,000 troops in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which it recognizes as independent states, the BBC said.