(29 Apr 2014) Negotiators resumed efforts on Tuesday afternoon to secure the release of seven military observers held hostage by pro-Russian militias in Ukraine's city of Slovyansk.
The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) delegation led by Mark Etherington, entered the heavily barricaded administrative building in Slovyansk, occupied by masked gunmen calling for independence from Kiev.
Vyacheslav Ponomarev, the self-proclaimed mayor of Slovyansk, said he would be willing to exchange the observers for pro-Russian activists held by Ukrainian authorities.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian military were operating checkpoints outside Slovyansk in order to encircle the city.
Last week Ukraine's special police units approached the area surrounding Slovyansk and said they destroyed at least four roadblocks as part of an operation to quash the rebellion.
But pro-Russian gunmen restored control immediately after Ukrainian troops withdrew.
Military and police forces under Kiev's authority said they are once again in control of roads leading in and out of the city.
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