Russian troops have removed a key checkpoint from Georgian territory near the breakaway province of South Ossetia, according to European Union observers.
The checkpoint, near the town of Gori, a gateway to the separatist region, is the first taken down by the Russians under a withdrawal pledge.
Russia has agreed to pull out troops from two buffer zones within Georgia by 10 October, under EU observation. The two countries fought a 10-day conflict over South Ossetia in August.
Russia has kept troops in South Ossetia - and Georgia's other breakaway region, Abkhazia - since ousting Georgian forces during the conflict.
Moscow has boosted security in South Ossetia in recent days following an explosion in the region which killed eight Russian soldiers and three civilians.
Some 200 EU observers from 22 nations are now on the ground overseeing the military's compliance, or otherwise, with pledges made by leaders at the Kremlin.
They reported the first signs of progress on October 5 at a checkpoint previously manned by 20-30 Russian soldiers.
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