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| Ukraine: Rival rallies confront each other in Crimea | Ukraine: Rival rallies confront each other in Crimea |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Pro- and anti-government demonstrators have gathered in rival rallies in front of the parliament of Ukraine's Crimea region. | Pro- and anti-government demonstrators have gathered in rival rallies in front of the parliament of Ukraine's Crimea region. |
| Only a police cordon has been between the rallies, one pro-Russian and the other of Crimean Tatars and those who support the change of government. | Only a police cordon has been between the rallies, one pro-Russian and the other of Crimean Tatars and those who support the change of government. |
| Tension has been rising in Crimea since President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted last week. | Tension has been rising in Crimea since President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted last week. |
| A new cabinet is due to be unveiled in the capital Kiev in a few hours' time. | A new cabinet is due to be unveiled in the capital Kiev in a few hours' time. |
| Rival chants | Rival chants |
| The two rival rallies in the city of Simferopol have been called ahead of a planned session of Crimea's parliament, where the issue of Crimea's status is expected to be raised. | The two rival rallies in the city of Simferopol have been called ahead of a planned session of Crimea's parliament, where the issue of Crimea's status is expected to be raised. |
| Tatars chanted "Glory to Ukraine!", while the pro-Russian activists responded with "Russia!" | |
| Crimea - where ethnic Russians are in a majority - was transferred from Russia to Ukraine in 1954. | Crimea - where ethnic Russians are in a majority - was transferred from Russia to Ukraine in 1954. |
| Ethnic Ukrainians loyal to Kiev and Muslim Tatars - whose animus to Russia stretches back to the horrors of Stalin's deportations during World War II - have formed an alliance to oppose any move back towards Moscow. | Ethnic Ukrainians loyal to Kiev and Muslim Tatars - whose animus to Russia stretches back to the horrors of Stalin's deportations during World War II - have formed an alliance to oppose any move back towards Moscow. |
| The change of government in Kiev has raised questions over the future of Russia's naval bases in the Crimean port city of Sevastopol, the lease for which was extended until 2042 by Mr Yanukovych. | The change of government in Kiev has raised questions over the future of Russia's naval bases in the Crimean port city of Sevastopol, the lease for which was extended until 2042 by Mr Yanukovych. |
| Most experts believe that the new leadership will not push for the withdrawal of the Russian fleet, as this could further threaten Ukraine's internal stability as well as the country's fragile relations with Russia, the BBC's Ilya Abishev reports. | Most experts believe that the new leadership will not push for the withdrawal of the Russian fleet, as this could further threaten Ukraine's internal stability as well as the country's fragile relations with Russia, the BBC's Ilya Abishev reports. |
| A statement issued by three former Ukrainian presidents on Wednesday - Leonid Kravchuk, Leonid Kuchma and Viktor Yushchenko - condemned what it said was Russian interference in Crimean politics. | A statement issued by three former Ukrainian presidents on Wednesday - Leonid Kravchuk, Leonid Kuchma and Viktor Yushchenko - condemned what it said was Russian interference in Crimean politics. |
| 'Serious threat' | 'Serious threat' |
| Also on Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a drill to test the combat readiness of troops in western and central Russia. | Also on Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a drill to test the combat readiness of troops in western and central Russia. |
| Such checks are not uncommon, although the timing is seen as significant. | Such checks are not uncommon, although the timing is seen as significant. |
| Russia, along with the US, UK and France, pledged to uphold the territorial integrity of Ukraine in a memorandum signed in 1994. | Russia, along with the US, UK and France, pledged to uphold the territorial integrity of Ukraine in a memorandum signed in 1994. |
| Ukraine's interim President Oleksandr Turchynov has expressed concern about what he called the serious threat of separatism following the ousting of Mr Yanukovych. | Ukraine's interim President Oleksandr Turchynov has expressed concern about what he called the serious threat of separatism following the ousting of Mr Yanukovych. |
| Addressing parliament, he said he would meet law enforcement agencies to discuss the risk of separatism in regions with large ethnic Russian populations. Separatism was a "serious threat". | Addressing parliament, he said he would meet law enforcement agencies to discuss the risk of separatism in regions with large ethnic Russian populations. Separatism was a "serious threat". |
| Russia has portrayed the ousting of Mr Yanukovych as a violent seizure of power by the opposition while EU countries have largely backed the change in government. | Russia has portrayed the ousting of Mr Yanukovych as a violent seizure of power by the opposition while EU countries have largely backed the change in government. |
| Elite unit disbanded | Elite unit disbanded |
| Meanwhile in the capital Kiev, acting Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said the elite Berkut police unit, blamed for the deaths of protesters, has been disbanded. | Meanwhile in the capital Kiev, acting Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said the elite Berkut police unit, blamed for the deaths of protesters, has been disbanded. |
| It is unclear what will happen to Berkut officers but Arsen Avakov said more details would be given in a briefing on Wednesday. | It is unclear what will happen to Berkut officers but Arsen Avakov said more details would be given in a briefing on Wednesday. |
| The unit had 4,000-5,000 members stationed across Ukraine. | The unit had 4,000-5,000 members stationed across Ukraine. |
| Also on Wednesday Mr Turchynov announced that he had assumed the duties of the head of the armed forces. | Also on Wednesday Mr Turchynov announced that he had assumed the duties of the head of the armed forces. |
| Later on Wednesday, a new cabinet is also expected to be presented to protesters in Kiev's Independence Square. | Later on Wednesday, a new cabinet is also expected to be presented to protesters in Kiev's Independence Square. |
| Any new government will face a daunting set of challenges, with many areas of government in Ukraine needing urgent reform, the BBC's David Stern in Kiev reports. | Any new government will face a daunting set of challenges, with many areas of government in Ukraine needing urgent reform, the BBC's David Stern in Kiev reports. |
| The much-despised Berkut are just one part of the security and law enforcement agencies, which have long been accused by human rights groups and local citizens of human rights abuses. | The much-despised Berkut are just one part of the security and law enforcement agencies, which have long been accused by human rights groups and local citizens of human rights abuses. |
| Ousted President Viktor Yanukovych fled Kiev at the weekend and his whereabouts are still unknown. | Ousted President Viktor Yanukovych fled Kiev at the weekend and his whereabouts are still unknown. |
| Interim authorities have issued a warrant for his arrest, and on Tuesday parliament voted in favour of trying him at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague. | Interim authorities have issued a warrant for his arrest, and on Tuesday parliament voted in favour of trying him at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague. |
| The fugitive president is accused of being behind the deaths of more than 100 protesters at the hands of riot police. | The fugitive president is accused of being behind the deaths of more than 100 protesters at the hands of riot police. |
| Are you in Ukraine? What is your reaction to the recent events? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk adding 'Ukraine' in the subject heading and including your contact details. | Are you in Ukraine? What is your reaction to the recent events? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk adding 'Ukraine' in the subject heading and including your contact details. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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