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Ukraine crisis: Shelling near Mariupol threatens tense truce | Ukraine crisis: Shelling near Mariupol threatens tense truce |
(35 minutes later) | |
Explosions have been heard near the south-eastern Ukrainian city of Mariupol, a day after the government and rebels agreed a ceasefire. | Explosions have been heard near the south-eastern Ukrainian city of Mariupol, a day after the government and rebels agreed a ceasefire. |
A BBC correspondent in the city says intense blasts from the eastern edges have rippled across the city. | A BBC correspondent in the city says intense blasts from the eastern edges have rippled across the city. |
Earlier, the Ukrainian and Russian presidents said the ceasefire in eastern Ukraine was "largely holding". | Earlier, the Ukrainian and Russian presidents said the ceasefire in eastern Ukraine was "largely holding". |
The Red Cross said aid trucks heading for the rebel-held city of Luhansk had turned back because of shelling. | The Red Cross said aid trucks heading for the rebel-held city of Luhansk had turned back because of shelling. |
The ceasefire deal was signed during talks between representatives of Ukraine, Russia, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and pro-Russia rebels in Belarus and came into effect at 15:00 GMT on Friday. | The ceasefire deal was signed during talks between representatives of Ukraine, Russia, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and pro-Russia rebels in Belarus and came into effect at 15:00 GMT on Friday. |
There were no reports of major fighting in the east for the first 24 hours, but by Saturday evening the BBC's Fergal Keane tweeted from Mariupol that shelling had resumed. | There were no reports of major fighting in the east for the first 24 hours, but by Saturday evening the BBC's Fergal Keane tweeted from Mariupol that shelling had resumed. |
There were explosions on the eastern fringes of the city close to government checkpoints, he said, and duels between artillery on both sides. | There were explosions on the eastern fringes of the city close to government checkpoints, he said, and duels between artillery on both sides. |
However, in the early hours of Sunday the shelling appeared to have abated. | However, in the early hours of Sunday the shelling appeared to have abated. |
Our correspondent says it is too early to say what impact this will have on the ceasefire across the eastern region, but it doesn't bode well. | Our correspondent says it is too early to say what impact this will have on the ceasefire across the eastern region, but it doesn't bode well. |
In another development, a new report by Amnesty International accuses all sides in the conflict of committing war crimes. | In another development, a new report by Amnesty International accuses all sides in the conflict of committing war crimes. |
The human rights group said civilians had accused Ukrainian government troops of shelling their neighbourhoods indiscriminately. | The human rights group said civilians had accused Ukrainian government troops of shelling their neighbourhoods indiscriminately. |
Witnesses also said that separatist fighters had "abducted, tortured, and killed their neighbours". The report accused Russia of fuelling separatist crimes. | Witnesses also said that separatist fighters had "abducted, tortured, and killed their neighbours". The report accused Russia of fuelling separatist crimes. |
Aid blocked | Aid blocked |
Some 2,600 people have died in fighting after pro-Russian rebels seized towns in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions in April - a month after Russia's annexation of the southern Crimean peninsula. | Some 2,600 people have died in fighting after pro-Russian rebels seized towns in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions in April - a month after Russia's annexation of the southern Crimean peninsula. |
Russia has repeatedly denied accusations by Ukraine and the West that it has been sending regular troops into eastern Ukraine to help the rebels. | Russia has repeatedly denied accusations by Ukraine and the West that it has been sending regular troops into eastern Ukraine to help the rebels. |
Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin spoke by phone on Saturday to discuss steps to make Friday's truce durable. | Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin spoke by phone on Saturday to discuss steps to make Friday's truce durable. |
In a statement Mr Poroshenko said they had stressed the need "to maximise the involvement" of the OSCE in monitoring the truce. | In a statement Mr Poroshenko said they had stressed the need "to maximise the involvement" of the OSCE in monitoring the truce. |
The two leaders also discussed ways of co-operating in delivering humanitarian aid to the region. | The two leaders also discussed ways of co-operating in delivering humanitarian aid to the region. |
For his part, President Putin said in a statement that an agreement was reached to "continue dialogue". | For his part, President Putin said in a statement that an agreement was reached to "continue dialogue". |
The spokesman for Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council, Andriy Lysenko, said earlier on Saturday that the rebels had fired 10 times on Ukrainian troops since the truce. | The spokesman for Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council, Andriy Lysenko, said earlier on Saturday that the rebels had fired 10 times on Ukrainian troops since the truce. |
Unconfirmed reports also say a number of fighters from Ukraine's Aydar battalion were ambushed and killed after the ceasefire. | Unconfirmed reports also say a number of fighters from Ukraine's Aydar battalion were ambushed and killed after the ceasefire. |
The rebel leader of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, Aleksandr Zakharchenko, said the truce was "not being fully observed" and that rebels had been subjected to shelling in the town of Amvrosiyivka near Donetsk. | The rebel leader of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, Aleksandr Zakharchenko, said the truce was "not being fully observed" and that rebels had been subjected to shelling in the town of Amvrosiyivka near Donetsk. |
Also, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said in a tweet that aid trucks on their way to Luhansk had been forced to turn back by shelling, without giving any further details. | Also, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said in a tweet that aid trucks on their way to Luhansk had been forced to turn back by shelling, without giving any further details. |
A BBC crew that travelled to Donetsk airport on Saturday morning heard gunshots and small explosions but residents said the night had been quiet. | A BBC crew that travelled to Donetsk airport on Saturday morning heard gunshots and small explosions but residents said the night had been quiet. |
Meanwhile, Russia vowed to respond if the European Union imposed new sanctions over the Ukraine crisis. | Meanwhile, Russia vowed to respond if the European Union imposed new sanctions over the Ukraine crisis. |
The EU says the sanctions, targeting more Russian individuals, will be introduced on Monday but could be suspended if Russia withdraws troops from eastern Ukraine and observes the truce. | The EU says the sanctions, targeting more Russian individuals, will be introduced on Monday but could be suspended if Russia withdraws troops from eastern Ukraine and observes the truce. |
The Russian foreign ministry said the EU was "practically sending a signal of direct support to the 'party of war' in Kiev". | The Russian foreign ministry said the EU was "practically sending a signal of direct support to the 'party of war' in Kiev". |
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