Pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine have released a team of military observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation and Security in Europe (OSCE), Russian news agency ITAR TASS reported on Saturday, according to dpa. The observers - which include German, Danish, Polish and Czech nationals - have been held in the city of Sloviansk since April 25, when they were detained by separatists who accused them of spying for NATO. During negotiations, the rebels had said that the observers would only be released on the condition that a prisoner exchange took place. The incident coincides with an increase in clashes between armed separatists and the Ukrainian military, which is carrying out a "counter-terrorism" offensive ordered by the leadership in Kiev to curb the unrest in the country's east. The clashes resulted in the death of a protester on Saturday, the pro-Russian leadership confirmed. Ten others have been injured in the crossfire. In eastern Ukraine, gunmen continue to occupy official buildings in a number of cities.
