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Ukraine crisis: Mariupol city hall 'liberated' Ukraine crisis: Mariupol city hall 'liberated'
(35 minutes later)
The Ukrainian government says it has regained control of the city hall in the eastern port of Mariupol from pro-Russian separatists.The Ukrainian government says it has regained control of the city hall in the eastern port of Mariupol from pro-Russian separatists.
There were no reports of serious injuries during the overnight operation in the city, where three pro-Russian protesters were recently shot dead. Several people are said to have been hurt during the overnight operation in the city, where three pro-Russian protesters were recently shot dead.
But local media quote the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic as saying it still controls the city hall. Administrative buildings have been taken over by separatists in at least a dozen towns in eastern Ukraine.
US President Barack Obama has accused Russia of flouting a deal on Ukraine. Talks are reportedly taking place in Mariupol between the two sides.
Pro-Russian separatists have taken over administrative buildings in at least a dozen towns in eastern Ukraine in a bid to seek closer ties to Moscow. Meanwhile, US President Barack Obama has accused Russia of flouting a deal on Ukraine reached in Geneva last week, under which illegal armed groups, including those who have seized public buildings, would return home.
Mr Obama told a news conference in Japan that Moscow had failed to halt actions by militants in the region and warned that the US had further sanctions against Russia "teed up".Mr Obama told a news conference in Japan that Moscow had failed to halt actions by militants in the region and warned that the US had further sanctions against Russia "teed up".
A contingent of US troops has begun landing in Poland for military exercises amid concerns among Nato's eastern members about Russian intentions.A contingent of US troops has begun landing in Poland for military exercises amid concerns among Nato's eastern members about Russian intentions.
Moscow has said it will respond to any attack on its interests in Ukraine.Moscow has said it will respond to any attack on its interests in Ukraine.
Unrest began in Ukraine last November over whether the country should look towards Moscow or the West.Unrest began in Ukraine last November over whether the country should look towards Moscow or the West.
Clash Baseball bats
Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov announced on Thursday that the city hall in Mariupol, a port on the Sea of Azov, had been "liberated" overnight without any casualties. Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov announced on Thursday that the city hall in Mariupol, a port on the Sea of Azov in the Donetsk region, had been "liberated" overnight without any casualties.
"Civic activists" played a major part in the operation, he said."Civic activists" played a major part in the operation, he said.
However, local news website 0629 reported that the self-proclaimed People's Republic of Donetsk was still claiming control over the mayor's hall after a struggle with attackers. According to the local news website 0629, a group of about 30 unidentified men in their twenties armed with baseball bats stormed the mayor's office between 03:00 (01:00 GMT) and 04:00 on Thursday.
Mr Avakov also reported that Ukrainian troops in Artemivsk had fended off an attempt by dozens of pro-Russian militants to seize weapons from a military unit. One soldier was wounded, he said. The protesters called the police who reportedly came out and calmed down the opposing sides.
Negotiations are under way at the scene between the separatists, the local pro-Ukrainian authorities and the police, the site says.
While the interior minister said nobody had been hurt in the operation, 0629 reported that five men were injured, though not seriously.
Mr Avakov also said that Ukrainian troops in Artemivsk, another town in the Donetsk region, had fended off an attempt by dozens of pro-Russian militants to seize weapons from a military unit. One soldier was wounded, he said.
Unverified footage of military helicopters, said to be flying over Artemivsk, was posted by a blogger on YouTube.Unverified footage of military helicopters, said to be flying over Artemivsk, was posted by a blogger on YouTube.
A local journalist, Anna Bokovaya, told Russian TV that about 50 people had taken part in the attack on the military unit, which lasted 45 minutes.
The militants began the attack after the soldiers inside rejected a demand to surrender, she said. The town was calm again on Thursday morning, she added.
Three pro-Russian protesters were killed when Ukrainian security forces fought off a raid on a base in Mariupol on 17 April.
Are you in Mariupol? How has the unrest affected you? You can email us your experiences at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk, using the subject line 'Ukraine'.Are you in Mariupol? How has the unrest affected you? You can email us your experiences at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk, using the subject line 'Ukraine'.