Georgia says withdrew troops from S. Ossetia

Georgia withdrew its forces from breakaway South Ossetia region on Sunday after three days of fighting but Russia has sent more troops into the enclave, the Georgian government said, amid conflicting reports on a deal between the two warring nations to create "humanitarian corridors" to evacuate refugees.

The pull-out announcement followed a Georgian push to take control of the pro-Moscow enclave from separatists which prompted Russia to pour troops into South Ossetia and launch air strikes inside Georgia.

"They have been withdrawn, completely," Georgian interior ministry spokesman Shota Utiashvili told Reuters.

Russian officials said the death toll in fighting that began on Thursday stood at 2,000. Georgia said on Friday that it had lost up to 300 people killed, mainly civilians.

On Sunday, a Georgian convoy of troops and artillery withdrew from South Ossetia through the village of Ergneti, just inside Georgian-controlled territory south of the separatist capital Tskhinvali.

Meanwhile, RIA Novosti news agency reported Sunday that Russia and Georgia have agreed to open two humanitarian corridors for the evacuation of wounded people and refugees from fighting in South Ossetia.

Georgia, however, denied the report. "It's not true," said Interior Ministry spokesman Shota Utiashvili.

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said earlier it was working on creating conditions for the evacuation of refugees from the region after Georgia said it was withdrawing its forces.

The head of the United Nations refugee agency urged all sides in the conflict to allow aid agencies access to the thousands of civilians caught up in the conflict.

"It is essential that humanitarian agencies be able to reach the affected and the displaced, and that those trapped in conflict areas be granted passage to safer areas as soon as possible," said Antonio Guterres, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

"It is absolutely essential that both sides respect humanitarian principles and ensure the protection and safety of civilians," Guterres added in a statement.

The UNHCR said it plans to provide basic non-food aid items and temporary shelter where required, following discussions on Saturday with Georgian humanitarian counterparts and other partners.