"Our units are near the conflict zone," he said, "and in case of illegal actions against the population in the conflict zone, Georgia will take all the necessary measures to defend the population."
On Friday, Georgia withdrew about 200 soldiers from South Ossetia (a breakaway republic in Georgia).
In a press release, South Ossetia's information and press committee reported that peacekeepers had established five additional posts in South Ossetia on the hills, from which the Georgian troops were withdrawn.
"On the hills from which the Georgian troops were withdrawn," the press release said, "peacekeeping posts have been established. In all, five posts have been placed from Dzhavsk Heights to Dzartsemi-Yeredvy road."
Tskhinvali was uncertain if Georgia would withdraw all units from South Ossetia that do not have a mandate from the Joint Control Commission.
According to South Ossetian Interior Minister Robert Guliyev, "the Georgian side has only started to withdraw units from the Yeredvi-Dzartsemi road. But they are only part of the units that are currently in the republic."
After an acute phase of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict in 1989-1992, the situation has been controlled by the peacekeeping forces and the joint commission, which comprises representatives of Russia, Georgia, South Ossetia and North Ossetia (a republic of the Russian Federation).
