An agreement has been reached between Russia and the leaders of Moldova's breakaway Transdniester region on the withdrawal of Russian troops from the self-proclaimed republic.

Some of the arms will be destroyed in situ

The agreement was signed by Russian deputy Defense Minister Vladimir Isakov and Transdniester's "president", Igor Smirnov.

Moscow started the pull-out last year in accordance with the 1999 Istanbul agreement brokered by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

The withdrawal was scheduled to be completed earlier this year, but the Transdniester leadership blocked it, demanding that the Russian weapons and military equipment should be left behind.

Gas debt

Officials agreed to the resumption of the pull-out in return for a promise from Moscow to slash the breakaway region's debt for natural gas supplies by about $100 million.

The first train loaded with military equipment is due to leave for Russia on 1 October.

The removal of thousands of tonnes of equipment will be watched by international military observers supervised by the OSCE.

Transdniester holds a massive stockpile of 38,000 tonnes of old Soviet military equipment.

Some 2,500 remaining troops of the Russian 14th army stationed nearby.

Under the Istanbul declaration, the remaining 2,500 Russian soldiers should be withdrawn from Transdniester by the end of this year, with about half the weapons stockpile transported back to Russia and the other half destroyed in situ.