Ukraine, rebels reach preliminary deal to broaden weapons withdrawal

Members of the far-right radical group Right Sector and their supporters hold an anti-government rally in Kiev, Ukraine, July 21, 2015. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich

MINSK (Reuters) - Ukraine and pro-Russian separatists have reached a preliminary agreement to extend a pull-back of weapons in east Ukraine to include tanks and smaller weapons systems, the chairman of the OSCE security watchdog, Ivica Dacic, said on Tuesday.

Under a ceasefire agreement brokered in Minsk, Belarus, in February, weapons of over 100 mm calibre are meant to have already been withdrawn, but both sides accuse the other of continuing to use heavy artillery and casualties are reported almost daily.