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Two civilians 'killed after start of Ukraine ceasefire'

Yenakieve (Ukraine) (AFP) - Shelling and mortar fire thundered around a flashpoint east Ukraine town on Sunday despite a new, shaky ceasefire largely observed along the rest of the frontline separating Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists.

Sporadic bombardments targeting the key railway hub of Debaltseve -- where thousands of Ukrainian soldiers are mostly surrounded by the rebels -- were audible from kilometres (miles) away, but they were far less intense than before the truce came into effect at 2200 GMT Saturday.

Ukraine's military said that across the entire conflict zone, its soldiers' positions had come under fire from the rebels 60 times on Sunday. Debaltseve, it said, was "the main hotspot".

The pro-Russian insurgents "shot using every kind of weapon, including Grad (multiple) rockets", military spokesman Anatoliy Stelmakh told AFP.

His assertion was backed up by observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), who are mandated to monitor the truce.

The separatists said the ceasefire was largely holding, but accused the other side of occasional breaches.

OSCE representatives added that rebels have blocked their access to Debaltseve, which they will try again to reach on Monday.

AFP journalists near Debaltseve heard fire from big artillery guns, mortars, machine guns and snipers throughout the day. They were unable to get into the town itself because of the hostilities.

"There was firing all night and all day," said a rebel commander, Oleg, at an insurgent base in an abandoned mine near Debaltseve. Around him tanks were stationed in firing positions.

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Shaky Ukraine truce holds except around flashpoint town