Russia is vowing that its military forces will finally pull out of Georgia's heartland by Friday.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev had promised to withdraw his soldiers from the country earlier this week, but there was no sign of any movement on the ground.

Russia invaded and occupied a number of Georgian towns after repelling the country's recent military assault on the breakaway province of South Ossetia.

Residents in Georgian areas controlled by the Russians say the military advance has allowed South Ossetian paramilitaries to engage in widespread murder and looting.