Russian troops let EU monitors into buffer zone

GEORGIA: Russian troops have allowed a group of European Union monitors to enter a buffer zone on the edge of Georgia’s separatist province of South Ossetia despite an earlier warning to them to stay out of the area.

Unarmed EU monitors in light armored vehicles launched patrols Wednesday in several areas near South Ossetia, in line with a French-brokered truce.

Russian troops manning a checkpoint near the village of Kventakotsa, about 12 miles (20 kilometers) west of the city of Gori in central Georgia, allowed two EU patrol vehicles into the buffer zone after a brief conversation with monitors.

The Russian military warned Tuesday that it would not allow the monitors to enter the buffer zone surrounding South Ossetia. Gori, Wednesday, AP