The Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs gave the Russian embassy in Tbilisi a note saying it was ceasing fire and withdrawing its troops from the South Ossetian conflict zone from August 10.

Below is the statement released by the Georgian MFA:

“On 10 August, 2008 Envoy Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to Georgia A. Smaga was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia.

The Georgian side passed a Note of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia to the Russian envoy.

The Note indicates that by Order of the President of Georgia issued on 10 August, 2008, at 5:00 am, the Georgian armed forces ceased fire in the Tskhinvali region.

All Georgian troops have been withdrawn from the conflict zone. The Georgian side opened a humanitarian corridor to the south of Tskhinvali to allow the peaceful population and wounded people to leave the conflict zone.

Georgia expresses its readiness to immediately start negotiations with the Russian Federation on a cease-fire and termination of hostilities.

10 August 2008
17:30"