11 killed in fresh Ukraine clashes

Eastern Ukraine has suffered the worst violence in more than two weeks as fighting in the war-torn areas killed at least 11 people in the past one day, a military spokesman said here Monday.

Among the victims, there were 10 civilians, who died in crossfire during "clashes between rival groups of the rebels" late Sunday, said Andrei Lysenko, spokesman for the National Security and Defence Council.

He claimed that the civilians were killed "as a result of mortar and artillery exchanges" between insurgent groups in a residential area of Donetsk city, according to Xinhua.

Separately, one Ukrainian soldier was killed and nine others were wounded in battles with rebels across the region in the past day, Lysenko said.

The cities of Lugansk and Donetsk, as well as Debaltsevo town, have been the main areas of fighting between government troops and insurgents, he added.

Under the terms of a peace deal signed Sep 5, Ukrainian troops plan to halt hostilities in the combat area Tuesday, on a "day of silence", to pave the way for a long-lasting ceasefire with rebels.

The insurgents have not confirmed that they would also observe the truce.

The armed conflict in eastern Ukraine, which began in mid-April, have claimed at least 4,350 lives and wounded more than 10,000 others, according to the latest UN estimates.