(dpa) - The United Nations said Tuesday that Russian armed forces remain in and around Gori, a major city in central Georgia, and that Moscow might not withdraw its vanguard troops until this weekend or later.
"The Russian troops remain in their positions in and around Gori, though there are some reports indicating that a small convoy of armored vehicles and tanks left Gori for South Ossetia earlier (Tuesday)," B Lynn Pascow, UN undersecretary general for political affairs, told the Security Council.
He said that the Russian military had explained that rear units and troops of the third echelon were being withdrawn first, leaving the vanguard troops behind.
"The Russian general staff indicated that the withdrawal would intensify after (Friday)," Pascoe said. "At the same time, the Russian military stated that Georgia has not returned all its troops to their bases."
The 15-nation Security Council held closed-door consultations Tuesday to discuss a draft resolution to demand "full and immediate" compliance with the agreed ceasefire in the Russia-Georgia conflict.
Pascoe reported casualty figures presented by each side in the conflict. He said that South Ossetia claimed 2,100 people were killed, which was disputed by Tbilisi. Russia's investigative committee said that 60 bodies were recovered Sunday in Tskhinvali, provincial capital of South Ossetia.
Russia said that 74 of its peacekeepers were killed in South Ossetia.
Georgian officials said that 215 of its troops and 69 civilians were killed in the hostilities that erupted on August 7, with 70 military personnel still missing.
Pascoe said that the UN is calling for full implementation of the six-point agreement worked out by France, to allow relief organizations to reach people affected by the conflict and so that talks can start toward a political solution.
"The UN stands ready to facilitate international discussions in this regards and to take part in concrete arrangements for a settlement," Pascoe said.
The draft resolution under discussion reaffirms UN members' commitment to respect the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Georgia "within its internationally recognized borders."
With the conflict showing signs of drawing down, the text was put to the Security Council's 15 countries for discussion and possibly a vote in order to ensure compliance with the ceasefire signed last weekend by Russia and Georgia.
The draft resolution demands "full and immediate compliance with the cease-fire agreement to which the parties have subscribed."
It calls for "immediate withdrawal of Russian forces to the lines held prior to the outbreak of hostilities, and the return of Georgian forces to their usual bases."
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres began a four- day visit Tuesday to Georgia for a first-hand assessment of the needs of an estimated 158,700 refugees of the Caucasus conflict.
Guterres arrived in Tbilisi for talks with Georgian government officials and was to continue to South Ossetia, the breakaway Georgian province now occupied by Russian military.
The UN appealed for 58.6 million dollars from the international community to help an estimated 130,000 Georgians affected by the conflict, to cover six months of humanitarian programmes by UN relief agencies and non-governmental organizations.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that donors had already provided 23 million dollars toward the appeal.
Fighting erupted on August 7 in South Ossetia and widened to Abkhazia, a second breakaway region of Georgia.
"The high commissioner will again press for the protection of the civilian population, especially those newly displaced, and for safe and unhindered access by humanitarian organizations to the areas of displacement," said UNHCR spokesperson Andrej Mahecic in Geneva.
Mahecic said that the agency had flown in supplies for more than 50,000 people to Tbilisi, but road convoys could not reach western Georgia, where some 15,000 displaced people were in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.
He described the situation on the ground in Georgia as "volatile and unpredictable."
UNHCR said that South Ossetia has some 30,000 refugees.
"I hope the international community will show itself fully ready, capable and willing to help provide critically-needed assistance to the people of Georgia," said Catherine Bragg, a UN relief official.
"While the most acute phase of the violence appears to have passed, until there is a firm peace in the country we must be prepared to respond to a critical and fluctuating humanitarian situation."