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People inside building of Lugansk dept of SBU say there are no hostages inside

LUGANSK, April 09, /ITAR-TASS/. There are no hostages inside the building of Ukraine's Securiy Service department here; the premises have not been mined, Artyom, one of protesters who is inside the building has told Itar-Tass by telephone.

"Our commanders went out into the street and told people there that we can show every room to journalists and those wishing to check this up for them to see for themselves that we have no hostages here and that everything here is done voluntarily," Artyom pointed out.

The interlocutor specified that there are only several tens of people in the building: "Paratroopers, Chernobyl veterans, mineworkers, businessmen, and jobless".

He said many people had gathered in front oft he building and many intend to spend the night there.

Artyom also related that windows in the building have been barricaded for safety reasons. "They tell us every 15 minutes that they intend to storm the building." "Disinfo is continuously coming in that we shall be attacked," he pointed out.

One of commanders who is inside the building of the Lugans department of SBU (Security Service of Ukraine) has told Itar-Tass by telephone that they are holding talks with official representatives of Ukraine's new authorities: "We are holding talks with Parubiy (Andrei Parubiy, parliament-appointed acting Secretary of SNBO (National Security and Defence CouncilNote by Itar-Tass). We shall see what will come about next".

The interlocutor pointed out that protesters would insist on meeting their demands the main of which is to hold a referendum in Ukraine about federalization. They also demand a "thorough investigation" concerning the arrested members of security personnel, "release of political detainees", and bringing Russian television channel back to the air.

A report to the effect that there were hostages inside the building of the Lugansk department of SBU and that the building was mined was placed by the SBU on its website on April 8.

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