European Union monitors began patrolling Georgian territory yesterday under a French-brokered peace deal.

When a group of EU observers arrived at a Russian checkpoint near the village of Kvenatkotsa at the perimeter of Russia's "security zone" on Georgian territory, Russians quickly let them enter the area.

The Russian soldiers didn't allow reporters to follow the observers into the buffer zone, but let Georgian civilians pass after examining their vehicles. A small white dog barked at passing cars, and a handful of Russian troops at the checkpoint looked relaxed.