Moscow, Jumada I 07, 1438, February 04, 2017, SPA -- The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) on Friday has called on the government troops and independence-seeking insurgents in eastern Ukraine to adhere to the agreed ceasefire to put an end to the ongoing violence. "We call on all sides to stop fighting immediately, to ensure the protection of civilians and vital infrastructure, and to stabilize the situation," Ertugrul Apakan, a chief monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, was quoted as saying by the OSCE press service. The escalation of tensions, which are particularly tense in the government-controlled Avdeevka town and the rebel-held Donetsk city and Yasynuvata town, constitute a threat to the civilian population, Apakan emphasized. The situation in eastern Ukraine has worsened during the weekend, with international monitors reporting a significant increase in cease-fire violations. -- SPA 03:34 LOCAL TIME 00:34 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w325182