April 6 (BBC News Europe) Ukraine's
acting president called an emergency security meeting in response. The unrest
comes amid tensions between Russia and Ukraine over the removal of pro-Moscow
President Viktor Yanukovych and Russia's annexation of Crimea.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has
said Moscow has the right to protect the Russian-speaking population there. Ukraine's
leaders deny the country's Russian speakers are under threat and have said they
will resist any intervention in their country. Ukrainian Acting President
Olexander Turchynov cancelled a planned visit to Lithuania and called a meeting
of the country's security chiefs to deal with the unrest.
In Donetsk, in what was reportedly
the day's most violent protest, a large group of activists broke away from a
crowd rallying in the main city square to attack and occupy the regional
government seat. After clashing with riot police and breaking through their
lines to enter the building, they raised the Russian flag and hung a banner
from the building. Protesters outside cheered and chanted: "Russia,
Russia."
Ihor Dyomin, a spokesman for Donetsk
local police, said about 1,000 people had taken part in the storming of the
building. "Around 100 people are now inside the building and are
barricading the building," he added.
In Luhansk, police fired tear gas at
dozens of protesters who broke into the local security service building in an
attempt to force the release of 15 pro-Russian activists who were arrested
earlier in the week and accused of plotting violent unrest. Local news reports
said at least two people had been injured in clashes, and TV pictures from the
scene showed a riot policeman being taken away on a stretcher. And in Kharkiv,
several dozen people also entered the regional government building after
breaking through police lines. They waved Russian flags out of windows as a
crowd outside cheered and chanted. Police officers reportedly refused to use
force against the crowd and moved away from the government building after the
pro-Russian supporters broke in.
Ukraine's Interior Minister Arsen
Avakov accused President Putin and Mr Yanukovych - who was forced from office
in February following months of street protests and is now living in exile in
Russia - of "ordering and paying for another wave of separatist turmoil in
the country's east".
In a message posted on his Facebook
account, he said: "The people who have gathered are not many but they are
very aggressive. The situation will be brought under control without bloodshed.
But at the same time, a firm approach will be used against all who attack
government buildings, law enforcement officers and other citizens."
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