Georgian official: Russian troops leaving Gori

Georgia's security council chief Alexander Lomaia says Russian troops are leaving the strategic central city of Gori.

His comments Friday came after Gori regional governor Vladimir Vardzelashvili said that 40 Russian military vehicles had left the city, heading north.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev had promised to have his troops out of Georgia by today.

But a top Russian general has amended Medvedev's prediction, saying it could be 10 days before the bulk of Russian troops leave the country.

Meanwhile a large Russian armoured column has been seen moving away from a base deep in Georgia.

The column of 83 tanks, APCs and trucks hauling artillery was moving away from the Senaki military base and toward the border of the breakaway Abkhazia region in western Georgia. Georgian police said the vehicles came from the base.