DONETSK, Ukraine
A second group of four observers from an international monitoring team captured by pro-Russia separatists on May 29 in eastern Ukraine have been released on Saturday.
Rebel leaders said the release was a sign of goodwill with no pre-conditions.
The first group of four monitors, including a Turkish member, had been released on Friday.
"We keep our side of the bargain. We delivered all eight observers. They are in good health," said Alexander Borodai, head of the self-declared Donetsk republic in Ukraine.
The eight-member observer team had been sent to Ukraine by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe to monitor an agreement reached in Geneva in April to ease tension in eastern Ukraine between government forces and pro-Russian separatists.
The Organization lost contact with the two teams from Donetsk and Luhansk on May 26.
Ukraine loyalists protest against ceasefire
Thousands of Ukrainians gathered in Kiev's Maidan square on Sunday to urge Ukrainian government to continue anti-terror operations against separatists in the eastern regions of the country.
Demonstrators led by the volunteer paramilitary group known as 'Donbass Batallion' also protested against President Petro Poroshenko's decision to extend a ceasefire to give separatists a chance to disarm and leave the country.
The Maidan square was home to violent street protests begining in November 2013 and leading to the overthrow of former president Viktor Yanukovych.
President Petro Poroshenko announced on June 18 that a 14-point peace plan would begin to be implemented with his orders on an unilateral ceasefire, which will be followed with administrative reforms to grant regional governments more authority.
Alexander Borodai, prime minister of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, has announced on Saturday that they would back Kiev's decision to extend the ceasefire for three additional days.
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