Heavy shelling near key Ukrainian port of Mariupol

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http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_UKRAINE?SITE=VANOV&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Heavy shelling near key Ukrainian port of Mariupol
By PETER LEONARD
Associated Press
Sep 5, 6:52 AM EDT

MARIUPOL, Ukraine (AP) -- Shelling resounded on the outskirts of a key Ukrainian port Friday as Russian-backed rebels pressed their southeast offensive just hours ahead of talks that are widely hoped to bring a cease-fire.

Associated Press reporters heard heavy shelling on Friday morning north and east of Mariupol. The strategic city of about 500,000 lies along the Sea of Azov, between Russia to the east and the Crimean Peninsula to the west, which Russia annexed in March.

The sound of incoming and outgoing shelling from different directions appeared to indicate that rebels have partially surrounded the area and are probing its defenses. The onslaught could be aimed at increasing pressure on the Ukrainian government ahead of peace talks in Minsk, Belarus.

The seizure of Mariupol would give the rebels a strong foothold on the Sea of Azov and raise the threat that they carve out a land corridor between Russia and Crimea. If that happens, Ukraine would lose another huge chunk of its sea coast and access to the rich hydrocarbon resources the Sea of Azov is believed to hold. Ukraine ready lost about half its coastline, several major ports and untold billions in Black Sea mineral rights with Russia's annexation of Crimea.