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Ukraine unrest: Abducted OSCE observers freed | Ukraine unrest: Abducted OSCE observers freed |
(35 minutes later) | |
Pro-Russian separatists in east Ukraine say they had freed seven international military observers taken captive in the town of Sloviansk a week ago. | |
The observers are linked to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). | |
The news came as Ukraine's government said it had resumed military action to tackle the separatists in the east. | |
Russia says it "no longer has any influence" over Russian speakers in Ukraine. | |
Western countries and Kiev have accused Moscow of being behind the unrest. | |
'Inexcusable' | 'Inexcusable' |
Five Ukrainian officers captured with the observers were also freed on Saturday. | |
Vyacheslav Ponomaryov, a leader of the insurgency in the east, confirmed the releases. | |
"As I promised them, we celebrated my birthday yesterday and they left. As I said, they were my guests," Mr Ponomaryov said. | "As I promised them, we celebrated my birthday yesterday and they left. As I said, they were my guests," Mr Ponomaryov said. |
The BBC's Sarah Rainsford in Donetsk says there is no detail yet on how or why they were freed - a spokeswoman for the pro-Russian groups told the BBC she had no comment on that. | |
Russia's RIA news agency quoted Vladimir Lukin, the envoy sent by President Vladimir Putin, as saying 12 people had been freed. | |
But Mr Putin's spokesman in Moscow, Dmitry Peskov, said Russia can "no longer influence the people of south-east Ukraine, who feel their lives are threatened". | |
Western leaders had condemned the abductions. | Western leaders had condemned the abductions. |
On Friday, US President Barack Obama again called for the observers to be released, saying their abduction was "inexcusable" and "disgraceful". | On Friday, US President Barack Obama again called for the observers to be released, saying their abduction was "inexcusable" and "disgraceful". |
German Chancellor Angela Merkel had said earlier that the release of the seven - four Germans, a Dane, a Pole and a Czech - would be "an important step" in easing tensions in the region. | German Chancellor Angela Merkel had said earlier that the release of the seven - four Germans, a Dane, a Pole and a Czech - would be "an important step" in easing tensions in the region. |
The observers are not part of the main OSCE monitoring mission, which was agreed after long negotiations by Russia, Ukraine and the US. | The observers are not part of the main OSCE monitoring mission, which was agreed after long negotiations by Russia, Ukraine and the US. |
They are instead unarmed military observers from individual OSCE states. | They are instead unarmed military observers from individual OSCE states. |
Ukraine's government meanwhile confirmed a second day of military operations in the east. | Ukraine's government meanwhile confirmed a second day of military operations in the east. |
Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said the "active phase of the operation continued at dawn", with Ukrainian forces taking a television tower in Kramatorsk, which is about 17km (10 miles) from the pro-Russian separatists' stronghold of Sloviansk. | Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said the "active phase of the operation continued at dawn", with Ukrainian forces taking a television tower in Kramatorsk, which is about 17km (10 miles) from the pro-Russian separatists' stronghold of Sloviansk. |
"We are not stopping," Mr Avakov wrote on his Facebook page. | "We are not stopping," Mr Avakov wrote on his Facebook page. |
Our correspondent says that although it appears the Ukrainian forces are continuing operations around Sloviansk, they have not yet tried to advance into the centre. | |
She says she spoke to residents of the area last night and was told some in Kramatorsk had gone out to try to stop armoured personnel carriers from entering. | She says she spoke to residents of the area last night and was told some in Kramatorsk had gone out to try to stop armoured personnel carriers from entering. |
She says the defence ministry also reported "serious fighting" last night in Andreevka, some 6km west of Sloviansk. | She says the defence ministry also reported "serious fighting" last night in Andreevka, some 6km west of Sloviansk. |
The ministry said pro-Russian separatists had attacked the armed forces and two Ukrainian soldiers were killed. Pro-Russian groups confirmed this, but also said there had been civilian casualties. There is no confirmation. | The ministry said pro-Russian separatists had attacked the armed forces and two Ukrainian soldiers were killed. Pro-Russian groups confirmed this, but also said there had been civilian casualties. There is no confirmation. |
The operations come a day after running battles between pro-Kiev groups and separatists in the south-western city of Odessa, which culminated in the fire at the Trade Unions House that left at least 36 dead. | |
Officials said some people were overwhelmed by smoke and others died after they jumped from the building. | |
The exact sequence of events is unclear, but reports suggest pro-Russian separatists had barricaded themselves inside the building and both sides were throwing petrol bombs. | |
The deaths sparked another war of words involving the West Russia and Ukraine. | |
Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Danylo Lubkivsky told the BBC that Russia was behind the violence. | |
On Saturday, Mr Peskov said: "Kiev and its Western sponsors are practically provoking the bloodshed and bear direct responsibility for it." | |
Local police chief Petro Lutsiuk told Reuters news agency on Saturday that more than 130 people had been arrested following the violence in Odessa. | |
Are you in Odessa or eastern Ukraine? How have you been affected by the recent violence? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line 'Ukraine unrest'. | |
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