EU preparing civilian mission to monitor Russian forces in Georgia

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana says EU nations are preparing to send a civilian monitoring mission to Georgia. The force could be deployed across the country to verify Russian forces are complying with a cease-fire agreement. Solana says that the mission could total hundreds of monitors. He told reporters Monday before an EU leaders summit that he expects EU nations to approve the plan in the coming weeks. EU nations have already sent 40 observers to Georgia.