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Ukraine crisis: Military observer freed in Sloviansk Ukraine crisis: Military observer freed in Sloviansk
(about 1 hour later)
One of the team of European monitors seized by pro-Russian separatists in the eastern Ukrainian flashpoint city of Sloviansk on Friday has been freed. Pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine have freed one of a team of eight European monitors seized in the flashpoint city of Sloviansk on Friday.
The man, reportedly Swedish, was released on medical grounds, a separatist spokeswoman told the BBC. The man, a Swede, was released on medical grounds, the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has confirmed.
The eight monitors - linked to the Vienna-based Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe - were shown to the media on Sunday. The monitors, who were operating under the auspices of the OSCE, were shown to the media on Sunday.
Intensive diplomacy has been going on to try to secure their freedom.Intensive diplomacy has been going on to try to secure their freedom.
There is no word about five Ukrainian military officers who were seized along with the group. There is no word about a number of Ukrainian military officers who were seized along with the group.
In eastern Ukraine, gunmen continue to occupy official buildings in a dozen cities, defying the government in Kiev.In eastern Ukraine, gunmen continue to occupy official buildings in a dozen cities, defying the government in Kiev.
In other developments:In other developments:
The US and EU are preparing to unveil new sanctions against Russia, accusing it of destabilising Ukraine.The US and EU are preparing to unveil new sanctions against Russia, accusing it of destabilising Ukraine.
'Not prisoners of war''Not prisoners of war'
The foreign observers are from Germany, Poland, Sweden, Denmark and the Czech Republic.The foreign observers are from Germany, Poland, Sweden, Denmark and the Czech Republic.
They were shown to the media on Sunday, led into Sloviansk town hall by masked gunmen.They were shown to the media on Sunday, led into Sloviansk town hall by masked gunmen.
German monitor Col Axel Schneider, who spoke for the group, stressed they were not Nato officers - contrary to claims made by the separatists - and that they were not armed fighters, but diplomats in uniforms. German monitor Col Axel Schneider, who spoke for the group, stressed they were not Nato officers - contrary to claims made by the separatists - nor armed fighters, but diplomats in uniforms.
"We are not prisoners of war. We are the guests of (self-declared Sloviansk) Mayor (Vyacheslav) Ponomaryov, and being treated as such.""We are not prisoners of war. We are the guests of (self-declared Sloviansk) Mayor (Vyacheslav) Ponomaryov, and being treated as such."
Reporters later saw one of the group - accompanied by two men - get into an OSCE vehicle which then drove away.Reporters later saw one of the group - accompanied by two men - get into an OSCE vehicle which then drove away.
Stella Khorosheva, a spokeswoman for Mr Ponomaryov, told Reuters the observer who left was a Swedish national. Stella Khorosheva, a spokeswoman for Mr Ponomaryov, told Reuters the Swedish national who was freed "has a mild form of diabetes and so we decided to let him go".
"He has a mild form of diabetes and so we decided to let him go," she said.
The monitors who were captured are not part of the main OSCE mission in Ukraine, which Moscow agreed to.The monitors who were captured are not part of the main OSCE mission in Ukraine, which Moscow agreed to.
They are from individual OSCE countries, invited to Ukraine by the Kiev government, says the BBC's Bethany Bell in Vienna, where the organisation has its headquarters.They are from individual OSCE countries, invited to Ukraine by the Kiev government, says the BBC's Bethany Bell in Vienna, where the organisation has its headquarters.
Earlier, Mr Ponomaryov said there was the possibility of exchanging the monitors for militia members held by the Kiev government.
Russia, an OSCE member, has pledged to "take all possible steps" to secure the release of the observers.
Kiev has accused the militia of using the Europeans as a "human shield".
The West is accusing Moscow of leading a secessionist revolt in eastern Ukraine after it annexed Crimea last month. Moscow denies the claim.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Ukraine must end military operations in the east of the country as part of urgent measures to defuse the crisis.