UKRAINE CRISIS: REBELS DECLARE EARLY POLL DATE (STA BREAKING NEWS and ARCHIVES)

by STANews , Tuesday, September 23, 2014, 14:04

A fragile ceasefire has largely held in eastern Ukraine, and rebels say they have begun pulling back their big guns

Rebel leaders in eastern Ukraine say they will hold elections on 2 November, in an apparent show of defiance towards the government in Kiev.

Although Ukraine is holding parliamentary polls a week before, it has offered the pro-Russian rebels a vote on self-rule in December.

A shaky ceasefire has held since 5 September and the two sides have since agreed to set up a buffer zone.

UN officials say 3,245 people have been killed since fighting began in April.

That number does not include the 298 victims of the Malaysia Airlines plane downed over eastern Ukraine on 17 July.

PICS AND MORE...

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-29335861