Berlin - German Chancellor Angela Merkel stepped up her calls Monday for Russia to fulfil the Georgian peace plan and to undertake an immediate and complete withdrawal of its troops from the nation after a conflict lasting more than two weeks.

"We expect that the points that have been agreed to, but not yet met, will be fulfilled in the next few days," said a German government spokesman Thomas Steg.

In particular, this includes dismantling control points stationed along key transport routes and the Russian troop presence in the port city of Poti, Steg said.

He went on to say that Merkel had not given up the hope that this would be successfully achieved.

Steg reminded Moscow that it was in the interests of both sides to ensure that relations were maintained. (dpa)