Ukraine rebels release second group of OSCE monitors

2014-06-29 138

ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION)

Pro-Russian separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine released on Saturday (June 28) the remaining four of eight international observers, captured nearly a month ago.

The rebels had detained a total of eight observers from the Vienna-based Organisation for the Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), a key security and rights body, tasked with monitoring an agreement drafted in Switzerland in April to de-escalate the crisis that has pitted the rebels against leaders in Kiev.

Four observers including a woman from Germany, and men from Russia, Estonia and Denmark, part of the 100-strong mission, were brought by heavily armed rebels to a hotel in downtown Donetsk, where they were handed over to their colleagues.

Securing the release of the OSCE hostages has been a part of peace consultations between mediators of the Kiev government, OSCE, Russia and rebel leaders.

The ceasefire between the rebels and the government, has been ext

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