Russian Aid Convoy Leaves Ukraine

About 100 lorries from an unauthorised Russian aid convoy have crossed
back over the border from rebel-held eastern Ukraine, officials say.

The convoy was returning from the city of Luhansk, which is held by
pro-Russian separatists who have been battling Ukrainian government
forces.

Meanwhile German Chancellor Angela Merkel has arrived in the Ukrainian
capital Kiev for talks.

On Friday she described the convoy as a "dangerous escalation".

Western officials fear the convoy could be part of a military intervention.

But Kremlin officials say the vehicles are only carrying generators,
food and drink.

The lorries had already been waiting at the border for a week, while
Russia, the Ukrainian government and the Red Cross tried to come to an
agreement on their passage.

The Russians said they could not wait any longer, owing to the
worsening humanitarian situation in eastern Ukraine, which is held by
pro-Russian separatists.

Four months of fighting in the region have left more than 2,000 people
dead. More than 330,000 people have fled flee their homes.