Georgia-Russia talks end without final agreement

Talks between Russia and Georgia have ended without a final agreement on the withdrawal of Russian forces from two military bases in Georgia.

The Russian deputy prime minister, Ilya Klebanov, told a news conference that differences had been narrowed significantly, but the Georgian foreign minister, Irakli Menagarishvili, said it was difficult to predict how the dispute would be resolved.

Russia originally wanted to keep the bases at Batumi and Akhalkalaki for a further fifteen years, but Georgia rejected such a lengthy stay.

Discussions are to resume in February.

Russia has agreed to abandon two other bases -- at Vaziani and Gudauta -- by next July. At their latest talks, the two sides signed accords on agriculture, economic co-operation and refugees.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service