Georgian internal troops, which were stationed in the South Ossetian conflict zone as a part of the joint ? Georgian-Russian-Ossetian ? peacekeeping forces, have been rotated and replaced by the Georgian Defense Ministry?s elite troops.
The Georgian, Russian and Ossetian sides have 500 peacekeepers each deployed in the conflict zone.
Georgian Defense Minister Giorgi Baramidze told reporters on August 29 that the Georgian Defense Ministry troops will protect the Georgian villages in the conflict zone.