Ukraine, rebels discuss broadening weapons withdrawal-aide
KIEV, April 2 (Reuters) - Ukraine, Russia and Russian-backed separatists are discussing prospects for extending a pull-back of weapons in east Ukraine to include tanks and smaller weapons systems, a press aide to Kiev's representative at peace talks said on Thursday.
"In order to reduce tension in the region the ... mutual withdrawal of tanks, 80-millimetre mortar and also of weapons of up to 100 millimetre calibre is being discussed," a press aide to former President Leonid Kuchma told Reuters.
Up to now, only weapons of more than 100 millimetre calibre including large artillery, heavy mortar and powerful rocket systems have been pulled back from the line of contact between government forces and separatist rebels under an agreement reached in Minsk, Belarus, in February.
No Casualties In Central Kyiv Bomb Blast
By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service
A bomb exploded in downtown Kyiv early in the morning on April 2.
No casualties were reported in the blast at about 4 a.m. at the entrance of a building that houses a bank branch.
It damaged doors and shattered windows of the building.
Several bombs have exploded in recent months in the southern port city city of Odesa and the eastern city of Kharkiv, both outside the area held by separatists in eastern Ukraine but seen as being coveted by the Russian-backed rebels.
Many of the bombs have appeared to target organizations with ties to government forces fighting against the rebels, and Ukrainian authorities have laid blame on Russia and the rebels.
Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) on April 1 detained three people suspected of involvement in several bombings in Odesa between December and March.
With reporting by UNIAN and Interfax
Here is today's map of the security situation in eastern Ukraine, according to the National Security and Defense Council (CLICK TO ENLARGE):
