Hundreds of armed insurgents attacked a border guards' camp in Luhansk, eastern Ukraine. At least five rebels were killed in the clash, a spokesman for the guards said.

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Pro-Russia militia fire at Ukrainian border guards defending the Federal Border Headquarters in Luhansk AFP

Pro-Russian insurgents, who have seized government and police buildings across eastern Ukraine, have waged increasingly aggressive attacks on government-held checkpoints and garrisons in an attempt to seize weapons and ammunition from Ukrainian forces.

The initial attack by about 100 insurgents was met by firing from the border guards, and the number of attackers swelled to around 400 a few hours later.

One insurgent fighter in uniform, who gave his name as Vlad Sevastopolsky, told AP pro-Russian militants surrounded the base but offered Ukrainian troops a safe corridor out, as long as they surrendered their weapons.

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A pro-Russia insurgent takes part in a firefight from the roof of an apartment building in Luhansk AFP
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A woman and her daughter leave their apartment building during an ongoing shoot-out between pro-Russia militants and border guards AFP
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Pro-Russia militia look up as they gather on the rooftop of a residential building during a shoot-out with Ukrainian border guards AFP
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A Pro-Russia militiaman shoots from the roof of a residential building AFP
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Pro-Russia militants carry the body of a comrade killed during an assault on a border command centre AFP
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The body of pro-Russia militant lies on the ground in Luhansk AFP
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Pro-Russian militants and firemen run out of the Regional State building AFP
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Firemen climb up a ladder towards the Regional State building in Luhansk after an explosion AFP
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