Ukraine rebels defiant over new law

Andrei Purgin said there were no plans to develop any political relationship - federal or otherwise - with Ukraine.But he said there were "positives" in the move by MPs to grant self-rule and an amnesty to rebels.He said it could be used as the basis for dialogue but rebels would not give up on a desire for "the Russian world".The new law, which affects Donetsk and Luhansk regions and is in line with a 5 September ceasefire, was condemned by some Ukrainian MPs as "capitulation".Purgin, the first vice prime minister of the so-called Donetsk People's Republic, said that the MPs' move was in effect "an invitation to the negotiation table"."The first positive thing is that we are no longer described as terrorists. Secondly, according to this law we have the right to foreign and political economic relationships."(thedailystar.net)Bakudaily.Az