Russia/Georgia

IGOETI, Georgiac (AP) — A Russian armored column moved away from a base in western Georgia and Russian forces also were leaving the key central city of Gori on Friday, the day that Russia's president had said a pullback would be complete. No Russian forces could be seen Friday afternoon in and around Igoeti, which had been their closest position to Georgia's capital. Russia sent its tanks and troops into Georgia after Georgiaprovince of South Ossetia. Fighting also has flared in a second Georgian breakaway region, Abkhazia. The short war has driven tensions between RussiaSoviet Union. launched a heavy artillery barrage Aug. 7 on the separatist, pro-Russian and the West to some of their highest levels since the 1991 breakup of the Soviet Union.

It may not be possible for the 12,000 ethnic Georgians to return home who have fled the territory after the Russian military assault began nearly two weeks ago. The Russian offensive has altered the balance of power in South Ossetia, just as it has chilled the relationship between Moscow and Washington more than at any time since the Cold War. A result of the fighting is that Georgians may no longer be welcome in long-troubled South Ossetia. Russian troops control South Ossetia, the area at the heart of the Georgia-Russia conflict. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev says he doesn't want to give it up. A top Russian general said Wednesday that 64 of the country's soldiers were killed in this month's fighting with Georgia and 323 were wounded. South Ossetian officials on Wednesday said 1,492 civilians in the breakaway province had been killed.

The world's major industrial countries are calling for increased economic support for war-torn Georgia. Finance ministers from the Group of Seven leading industrial countries issued a joint statement Wednesday pledging support for Georgia's economy and its financial system. They also urged other countries and institutions to assist in the effort. "We, the G-7, stand ready to support Georgia in order to promote the continued health of the Georgian economy, maintain confidence in Georgia's financial system and support economic reconstruction," the finance officials said.