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Ukraine crisis: Law grants rebels self-rule and amnesty Ukraine crisis: Law grants rebels self-rule and amnesty
(35 minutes later)
Rebel-controlled regions of eastern Ukraine have been granted self-rule and fighters have been given an amnesty, under a new law adopted by parliament.Rebel-controlled regions of eastern Ukraine have been granted self-rule and fighters have been given an amnesty, under a new law adopted by parliament.
The measures are in line with the 5 September ceasefire agreement signed by President Petro Poroshenko.The measures are in line with the 5 September ceasefire agreement signed by President Petro Poroshenko.
The amnesty affects rebels in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, but does not cover the shooting down of the MH17 plane.
The European and Ukrainian parliaments have also voted to ratify a major EU-Ukraine association agreement.The European and Ukrainian parliaments have also voted to ratify a major EU-Ukraine association agreement.
Negotiations with Russia last week led to the free-trade part of the agreement being postponed until 2016. Ukraine and the West accuse Russia of backing the rebels with soldiers and heavy weapons. Russia denies doing so.
Russia accused
The amnesty means pro-Russian separatists taken prisoner in the fighting should now be released.
Rebels holding government buildings in the east are now supposed to leave them, hand over prisoners and surrender their weapons.
However, many of the rebels are demanding full independence, and speak of creating a new state called "Novorossiya" - something Russian President Vladimir Putin has also mentioned in speeches.
Meanwhile, there has been heavy shelling around the government-held airport of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine, despite the fragile ceasefire.
Pro-Russian rebels have been engaged in heavy fighting with government forces in Donetsk and Luhansk since April - a month after Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea peninsula.
At least 3,000 people have been killed in the conflict and more than 310,000 internally displaced in Ukraine, the UN says.At least 3,000 people have been killed in the conflict and more than 310,000 internally displaced in Ukraine, the UN says.
Ukraine and the West accuse Russia of providing the rebels with regular soldiers and heavy weapons. Russia denies direct involvement. The amnesty affects rebels in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, but does not cover the shooting down of the MH17 plane.
Western leaders believe rebels shot down the Malaysia Airlines jet with a Russian missile in July.
Rebels accused of other "grave" crimes will not be covered by the new amnesty either.
Historic day
The rebels have controlled most of Donetsk and Luhansk regions since April. The uprising began soon after Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea peninsula.
The EU-Ukraine agreement ratified on Tuesday lies at the root of Ukraine's crisis.
It was Viktor Yanukovych's refusal to sign it in November last year that triggered mass protests and his fall from power.
The votes took place simultaneously, with a live video link-up between the two parliaments.
Both President Poroshenko and the President of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, called it a historic day.
But negotiations with Russia last week led to the free-trade part of the agreement being postponed until 2016.
There are fears in Ukraine that Russia will still try to scupper the deal.
Call to free prisoners
The amnesty means pro-Russian separatists taken prisoner in the fighting should now be released.
There have been some prisoner releases already during the ceasefire.
Rebels holding government buildings in the east are now supposed to leave them, hand over captured Ukrainian soldiers and other prisoners and surrender their weapons.
However, many of the rebels are demanding full independence, and speak of creating a new state called "Novorossiya", something Russian President Vladimir Putin has also mentioned in speeches.
Meanwhile, there has been heavy shelling around the government-held airport of Donetsk, despite the fragile ceasefire.
Are you in eastern Ukraine? Has the recent violence affected you? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Are you in eastern Ukraine? Has the recent violence affected you? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.