Military OSCE observers released in Ukraine

The military observers from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe who were held for more than a week have been released, the leader of pro-Russia insurgents in the eastern Ukrainian city of Slovyansk has said.

A reporter today saw one of the observers, German Col. Axel Schneider and his Ukrainian translator walk free. Insurgent leader Vyacheslav Ponomarev said that all seven observers and their five Ukrainian assistants were free.

Insurgents in Slovyansk, the epicentre of eastern Ukraine, seized the observer team on April 25.