OSCE suspends deployment of monitors in Ukraine

Vienna, June 30 (IANS) The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Monday said it has halted further monitoring activities in Ukraine due to security reasons.

Alexander Hug, deputy chief monitor of the OSCE's special monitoring mission to Ukraine, said OSCE has suspended further deployment of monitoring teams in eastern Ukraine, Xinhua reported.

Hug said monitoring would be resumed after the security situation improves.

"We need weapons to disappear, we need checkpoints to disappear and we need freedom of movement," Hug said at the OSCE headquarters in Vienna.

"We do not want to put further monitors at risk," he said.

He also noted that all eight monitors kidnapped by pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine were freed last week. They were unharmed and their release was unconditional.