Russia has begun pulling its troops out of Georgia, according to its deputy chief of staff. In a daily official briefing, Col-General Anatoly Nogovitsyn said the pull-out started in accordance with a six-point ceasefire plan brokered by French President Nicolas Sarokzy.

As conflicting reports come in of the state of Russia’s troop withdrawal, Georgia President’s Mikheil Saakashvili has called for direct peace talks. In a televised address, he struck a conciliatory tone and urged the Kremlin to discuss ways to avoid “discord for future generations.”

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran is ready to offer investment guarantees to German companies, an official said Monday.