MOSCOW, August 18, SPA -- The deputy chief of staff of Russia'smilitary says the withdrawal of forces from the conflictzone with Georgia has begun, the Associated Press reported. The statement by Col.-Gen. Anatoly Nogovitsyn came amiduncertainty about whether Russia was fulfilling PresidentDmitry Medvedev's promise to begin the pullout Monday. Earlier in the day, Russian forces around the strategicGeorgian city of Gori had shown no sign of moving away andeven appeared to be solidifying their positions. But Nogovitsyn told a briefing Monday that «today,according to the peace plan, the withdrawal of Russianpeacekeepers and reinforcements has begun.»--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/582988