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Ukraine crisis: Fighting erupts in city of Mariupol Ukraine crisis: Fighting erupts in city of Mariupol
(35 minutes later)
Government troops in eastern Ukraine have launched a dawn attack on separatist rebels in the port of Mariupol, with heavy fighting reported.Government troops in eastern Ukraine have launched a dawn attack on separatist rebels in the port of Mariupol, with heavy fighting reported.
Interior Minister Arseny Avakov said the security forces were successfully bringing separatist strongholds in the city "under control".Interior Minister Arseny Avakov said the security forces were successfully bringing separatist strongholds in the city "under control".
Five pro-Russian rebels were reported killed and at least four government soldiers injured in the city.Five pro-Russian rebels were reported killed and at least four government soldiers injured in the city.
Rebels elsewhere in the region have confirmed they now have three tanks.Rebels elsewhere in the region have confirmed they now have three tanks.
The appearance of the tanks, filmed in various towns in the Donetsk region, sparked a row between Kiev and Moscow, with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko protesting to his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. The appearance of the tanks, filmed in various towns in the Donetsk region, sparked a row between Kiev and Moscow, with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko protesting to his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. Russia denied Ukrainian allegations that the tanks had entered Ukraine from its territory.
Russia denied Ukrainian allegations that the tanks had entered Ukraine from its territory.
Hundreds of combatants and civilians have been killed since pro-Russian separatists in the Donetsk and neighbouring Luhansk regions declared independence after holding referendums last month which were deemed illegal by the government in Kiev.Hundreds of combatants and civilians have been killed since pro-Russian separatists in the Donetsk and neighbouring Luhansk regions declared independence after holding referendums last month which were deemed illegal by the government in Kiev.
Friday's operation seems to have been a success after many setbacks for the Ukrainian forces, the BBC's David Stern reports from the Ukrainian capital, Kiev.
However, Mariupol has been fought over intensively before and it cannot be ruled out that the insurgents may return to try to take it back again, our correspondent adds.
'Proceeding to plan''Proceeding to plan'
Mr Avakov said government forces had raised the national flag over the council building in the city, a port on the Sea of Azov in the south of Donetsk region which has changed hands several time during the conflict.Mr Avakov said government forces had raised the national flag over the council building in the city, a port on the Sea of Azov in the south of Donetsk region which has changed hands several time during the conflict.
The operation, he said, had begun at 04:50 (01:50 GMT) and was "proceeding according to plan".The operation, he said, had begun at 04:50 (01:50 GMT) and was "proceeding according to plan".
"All key strongholds held by the terrorists are being brought under control," he said on Facebook. "The area where the operation is being carried out in the centre of Mariupol has been cordoned off.""All key strongholds held by the terrorists are being brought under control," he said on Facebook. "The area where the operation is being carried out in the centre of Mariupol has been cordoned off."
Confirming that four soldiers were injured, Ukraine's National Guard said on its website that its recently formed Dnepr and Azov "volunteer" units were being used in the operation.Confirming that four soldiers were injured, Ukraine's National Guard said on its website that its recently formed Dnepr and Azov "volunteer" units were being used in the operation.
A rebel source told Russia's Interfax news agency that five fighters had been killed and that fighting was still under way.A rebel source told Russia's Interfax news agency that five fighters had been killed and that fighting was still under way.
Video of a ferocious gun battle, which appears to show government soldiers at a barricade in Mariupol, was posted on YouTube.Video of a ferocious gun battle, which appears to show government soldiers at a barricade in Mariupol, was posted on YouTube.
In another development, a bomb destroyed a minibus in the city of Donetsk on Thursday evening, killing two people and injuring two. The vehicle belonged to Denis Pushilin, head of the self-styled Donetsk People's Republic, who was not using it at the time.
TanksTanks
Another Russian news agency, Ria-Novosti, quoted a spokesman for the rebel leadership, the self-styled Donetsk People's Republic, as saying they had received three tanks which would be sent to "the most difficult sectors". Mr Pushilin confirmed the rebels had received the three tanks and that they were in Donetsk, without saying where they had come from.
The spokesman would not say where the tanks had come from. A paramilitary in the rebel-held town of Snizhne, where they were first sighted, told Reuters news agency: "We got them from a military warehouse." The tanks, he told the Russia 24 news channel, gave the rebels "at least some hope of defending [Donetsk] because heavy weapons are already being used against us".
A paramilitary in the rebel-held town of Snizhne, where the tanks were first sighted, told Reuters news agency: "We got them from a military warehouse."
Contrary to initial reports that the tanks are Russian-made T-72s, one of the most commonly used models in late Soviet times, rebels and bloggers have identified them as T-64s, an older model manufactured in Ukraine.Contrary to initial reports that the tanks are Russian-made T-72s, one of the most commonly used models in late Soviet times, rebels and bloggers have identified them as T-64s, an older model manufactured in Ukraine.
One amateur video shows the tanks passing through the town of Torez.One amateur video shows the tanks passing through the town of Torez.
Mr Avakov has said the tanks crossed the border from Russia along with armoured personnel carriers and artillery pieces in the Dyakove area of Luhansk region, before moving into the neighbouring Donetsk region.Mr Avakov has said the tanks crossed the border from Russia along with armoured personnel carriers and artillery pieces in the Dyakove area of Luhansk region, before moving into the neighbouring Donetsk region.
Ukraine and the West accuse Russia of supporting and arming the rebels - a claim denied by Moscow.Ukraine and the West accuse Russia of supporting and arming the rebels - a claim denied by Moscow.
The rebellion began after February's ousting of the elected President, Viktor Yanukovych, whose last-minute decision not to sign a landmark treaty with the EU in November sparked mass street protests in Kiev.The rebellion began after February's ousting of the elected President, Viktor Yanukovych, whose last-minute decision not to sign a landmark treaty with the EU in November sparked mass street protests in Kiev.