Ukraine forces battle separatists after truce 'refused'

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/06/19/us-ukraine-crisis-fighting-idUSKBN0EU0K320140619



Pro-Russian separatists stand guard at a checkpoint near a burnt truck outside Luhansk, June 18, 2014.

Ukraine forces battle separatists after truce 'refused'
KIEV Thu Jun 19, 2014 6:48am EDT

(Reuters) - Ukrainian troops and pro-Russian separatists were locked in fierce fighting in the east of Ukraine on Thursday after rebels rejected a call to lay down their arms in line with a peace plan proposed by President Petro Poroshenko, government forces said.

Heavy fighting broke out at around 4 a.m. near the town of Krasny Liman, which itself has been under government control since early this month.

"We issued an ultimatum to the terrorists overnight to surrender their weapons. We guarantee their safety and investigation in line with Ukrainian law ... They refused," said government forces spokesman Vladyslav Seleznyov.

"Now we are trying to narrow the encirclement. They are trying to break out," Seleznyov said.