DHAKA: Seven international military observers taken captive in eastern Ukraine a week ago have been released.

Five Ukrainian officers captured with the observers, who are linked to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, were also freed.

Pro-Russian separatists in the town of Sloviansk say they released the OSCE observers ‘without conditions’, reports the BBC.

The news came as Ukraine’s government said it had resumed military action to tackle the separatists in the east.

Russia, accused by the West of being behind the unrest, says it ‘no longer has any influence’ over the separatists.

Moscow also accused Kiev and the West of responsibility for Friday’s violence in the south-western city of Odessa, which left at least 36 people dead.

Both the OSCE and Vyacheslav Ponomaryov, a leader of the insurgency in the east, confirmed the releases.

BDST: 1618 HRS, MAY 03, 2014