Separatists withdraw heavy weapons from southern Donetsk

Moscow, Dec 11 (IANS/EFE) The self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) in eastern Ukraine Thursday announced the withdrawal of its heavy artillery from the south of the region after a new truce with Ukraine took effect two days ago.

"Our forces began pulling artillery units with a calibre greater than 100 mm from the south of the republic," Russian news agency Interfax quoted DPR vice-president Denis Pushilin as saying.

The announcement came amid uncertainty about the date of the next round of peace talks between the parties which are to be mediated by Russia and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe and held in Minsk, the capital of Belarus.

The pro-Russian separatists insist on holding consultations Friday but an agreed date has not yet been confirmed.

Meanwhile, former Ukraine president Leonid Kuchma, Kiev's representative at the talks, said that he saw no reason for another round of negotiations.

Despite several complaints of violations of the new truce by the warring factions, skirmishes between the separatists and the Ukrainian forces have come down since Tuesday.

--IANS/EFE

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