Ukrainian authorities, rebels evacuate civilians from front line town

Empty buses, intended for internally displaced persons (IDPs) from the village of Debaltseve, drive in the direction of the village to evacuate the residents, outside Yenakieve town, eastern Ukraine February 6, 2015. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov

DEBALTSEVE, Ukraine (Reuters) - Convoys of buses carrying many local residents to safety left the besieged town of Debaltseve in eastern Ukraine on Friday as government forces kept up artillery fire to defend their positions against pro-Russian separatists.

The two convoys of empty buses, one of around 20 vehicles coming from territory controlled by the Ukrainian army and another of more than 30 from the rebel-held city of Donetsk converged in Debaltseve town centre's narrow streets and a small square near the district administration building.