An international monitoring body has said its IT systems were hit by cyber attackers in a "major security incident" that compromised its network.

Axar.az reports that, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) refused to speculate on reports that Russian hackers were behind the attack.

It has observers in several of Europe's hot spots, including eastern Ukraine, where it monitors ceasefire violations.

"We became aware of an incident at the start of November," said a spokeswoman.

"I don't know how long it went on for but it was serious. The integrity of the ICT system was compromised and put in danger," the spokeswoman told the BBC from the group's headquarters in Vienna.

APT28 has already been linked to an attack on French global network TV5 and the leaks of leading athletes' medical data, while senior US officials have also blamed Russian hackers for an attack on the Democratic Party's emails.

French newspaper Le Monde quoted an unnamed Western intelligence agency as saying the cyber attack was likely to be down to Russian hacking group APT28, also known as Fancy Bear, Pawn Storm or Sofacy.