Ukraine and pro-Russian rebels swap prisoners

The government in Kyiv and rebels in Ukraine's eastern region exchanged prisoners on Friday following an agreement in the contact group's meeting earlier this week.

The swap was happening in a neutral town located about 50 kilometers (30 miles) north of Donetsk, the rebel stronghold. Russian news agency Interfax reported that the exchange would involve 225 separatist gunmen and 150 Ukrainian soldiers.

The contact group cut a deal on swapping prisoners after its members, including Russia, representatives of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and Kyiv officials held a round of talks with rebel leaders in the Belarusian capital, Minsk, on Wednesday.

The talks, which had been planned to continue on a second day - Friday - before the second leg was cancelled, were to additionally discuss the withdrawal of heavy military equipment and the supply of humanitarian aid to the eastern part of Ukraine.

Separatist leaders were also demanding that Kyiv end its economic embargo for its eastern region.

More than 4,600 people have been killed in eastern Ukraine since fighting broke out between Kyiv soldiers and separatists in April following Russia's annexation of Crimea. Ukraine accuses Russia of supporting the rebels with military aid, a charge which Moscow has denied.

mg/sb (AFP, dpa)