Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and French President Nicolas Sarkozy agreed Tuesday that both Russian and Georgian troops will withdraw to their pre-conflict positions to halt the fighting in the breakaway Georgian province of South Ossetia, media reports said.

Medvedev and Sarkozy, who is acting as mediator and plans to visit Georgia later as part of international efforts to halt the conflict, agreed on the principles for withdrawal of troops, they said.

Medvedev said earlier Tuesday he had decided to halt military operations in South Ossetia and its vicinity as security in the conflict zone has been restored, Russia's Itar-Tass news agency reported.

"I have decided to end the operation to compel the Georgian authorities to peace. The aim has been achieved," Medvedev was quoted by the report as saying at a meeting with Defense Minister Anatoliy Serdyukov and Nikolai Makarov, the chief of staff of Russia's armed forces.

But Medvedev was reported to have ordered Russian forces to "eliminate the aggressor" in the event Georgian forces resume military activity.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Japanese Foreign Ministry issued an evacuation advisory, the highest of four travel warning levels, for all Japanese nationals to leave Georgia immediately.

After Georgia intensified operations in the breakaway province of South Ossetia on Aug. 7, Russia's military advanced into the region, saying its troops stationed in the area as peacekeepers had been attacked.

Thousands of civilians in the province are believed to have been killed in the intense fighting that has taken place amid growing international calls for a cease-fire.