IGOETI, Georgia, Aug 19 (Reuters) - Russian and Georgian forces exchanged prisoners on Tuesday in a gesture of goodwill despite continued tension over Russia's promised withdrawal from positions in Georgia.

A Reuters correspondent witnessed the exchange 45 km (30 miles) west of the capital Tbilisi, in a village where Russian soldiers and Georgian police man positions.

The handover included at least one Russian pilot shot down by Georgian forces. Ambulances were on the scene and several people were carried on stretchers.

(Reporting by Margarita Antidze)

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