Rebels Seize Military Barracks in Ukraine's Donetsk

Armed rebels seized control of a Ukrainian military barracks in the insurgent-held eastern city of Donetsk on Friday, an Agence France Presse correspondent at the scene said.

Explosions were also heard in Donetsk, a rare occurrence in the region's main city in recent weeks despite the pro-Russian insurgency in the east.

But they did not appear to be linked to the takeover of the National Guard barracks, and the correspondent said the separatists had not encountered any resistance as they overran the complex.

She said there was no sign of combat and the troops -- special forces attached to the interior ministry -- had left the barracks in trucks.

Kiev's interim leaders last month launched what they described as an "anti-terrorist" operation to try to wrest back control of over a dozen eastern towns from pro-Russian rebels.

But despite the Ukrainian military's superior firepower, the insurgents are digging in and going on the offensive.

"We control the base," was all one of the armed men would say at the Donetsk barracks.

"Everything happened calmly. We saw them arrive, armed men wearing masks. They surrounded the building and then there were about two hours of negotiations," said one local resident.

"They told the troops they could either join the rebellion or leave the barracks."