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Hostages freed in Kharkov, gunmen detained

KHARKOV, March 15, 12:06 /ITAR-TASS/. The operation to detain Right Sector militants, who had opened fire and seized hostages in Kharkov, was completed, the Kharkov region's police chief Anatoly Dmitriyev told Itar-Tass on Saturday.

About 30 people were detained. The exact number would be known later. Their identities had yet to be established. They had no passports with them. Fingerprints would be taken from the guns left in the building, Dmitriyev said.

The detained persons are held in custody at a district police station. Kharkov defenders opposing Right Sector nationalists are standing outside the building to prevent release of the militants. "We fear they will be released," one of city residents said.

Earlier, after negotiations of Kharkov Mayor Kernes with the militants, one of the three hostages was freed. "As a result of the negotiations, one hostage was freed. About 40 radicals remained in the building. Two people remained held as hostages by the militants. One of the hostages is a policeman who came into the building for negotiations," Kernes said.

Two people died and two, including a policeman, were wounded in clashes between Kharkov residents and Right Sector militants. Submachine gun fire was opened from the building of the Right Sector headquarters, and stun grenades and Molotov cocktails were used.