Russia to Start Lithuania Troop Pullout

Russia has agreed to start withdrawing former Soviet troops from Lithuania this month and will discuss handing over some weapons and ammunition to the Baltic country, the two sides said Saturday.

Lithuanian and Russian negotiators announced the agreement after talks on Friday in Vilnius, the Lithuanian capital. Similar negotiations were to begin immediately in neighboring Latvia.

The announcement did not say when the withdrawal would be completed. Technical experts will meet Feb. 10 to complete details, said Lithuanian Parliament spokesman Arune Kontautaite.

The three Baltic states--Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia--repeatedly have demanded the withdrawal of former Soviet military units since winning their independence after the August coup.

Officials say 608 units, with a total of 128,000 officers and men, are stationed in the Baltics. They have been under Russian jurisdiction since the breakup of the Soviet Union in December.