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Ukraine rebels granted self-rule
Ukraine rebels granted self-rule, Ukraine\'s parliament has granted self-rule to eastern regions controlled by pro-Russian rebels, as well as an amnesty for the fighters themselves.
Amnesty granted to rebels; It does not cover downing of MH17
- Parliament ratifies landmark EU pact
- It is a first step towards EU membership
Kiev: Ukraine's parliament has granted self-rule to eastern regions controlled by pro-Russian rebels, as well as an amnesty for the fighters themselves.
The measures are in line with the 5 September ceasefire agreement signed by President Petro Poroshenko. The rebels have been battling Ukrainian government forces since their seizure of eastern regions bordering Russia.
Ukraine and the West have accused Russia of backing the rebels with soldiers and heavy weapons. Russia denies doing so. At least 3,000 people have been killed in the five-month conflict and more than 310,000 internally displaced in Ukraine, the UN says.
The amnesty affects rebels in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, but does not cover the shooting down of the MH17 passenger plane in July. Western leaders believe rebels shot down the Malaysia Airlines jet with a Russian missile - a charge the rebels and Russia deny.
Rebels accused of other "grave" crimes will not be covered by the new amnesty either. The rebels have controlled most of Donetsk and Luhansk regions since April. They launched their uprising soon after Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea peninsula.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian parliament ratified a landmark EU pact that decisively steers the former Soviet state towards the West and away from Russian influence.
President Petro Poroshenko told lawmakers the ratification of the association agreement -- in a simultaneous vote with the European parliament in Strasbourg -- was a "first step" towards membership of the European Union.
"Tell me, who will now dare to shut Ukraine's doors to Europe? Who will be against our future membership in the EU, towards which today we are taking our first but very decisive step."
A total of 355 lawmakers voted in favour of the ratification of the pact -- which had been rejected by former pro-Kremlin president Viktor Yanukovych in November, setting off months of turmoil that eventually led to his ouster and triggered Russia's seizure of Crimea and a separatist uprising in the east.
