Western military observers held captive by Ukrainian rebels for eight days walked free on Saturday.<br/> <br />They'd been held by pro-Russian separatists in the eastern Ukrainian city of Slaviansk.<br/> <br />They work for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, or OSCE.<br/> <br />They were in the country at Ukraine's request, part of a monitoring mission to gather information and reduce tensions on the ground.<br/> <br />Their captors initially described them as prisoners of war.<br/> <br />Slaviansk's pro-Russian separatist leader said he released the observers to coincide with his birthday.<br/> <br />Their capture was a major diplomatic issue for the West.<br/> <br />Kiev and the West had criticised Russia for failing to help with their release.<br/> <br />But their freedom on Saturday could help relieve pressure on Moscow, just when Ukraine teeters a little closer to war.
