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| Ukrainian ex-leader Viktor Yanukovych vows fightback | Ukrainian ex-leader Viktor Yanukovych vows fightback |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Ukraine's ex-President Viktor Yanukovych has made his first public appearance since being ousted last week, telling a news conference in Russia he would fight for his country. | Ukraine's ex-President Viktor Yanukovych has made his first public appearance since being ousted last week, telling a news conference in Russia he would fight for his country. |
| He said he was "not overthrown", but was compelled to leave Ukraine after threats to his life. | He said he was "not overthrown", but was compelled to leave Ukraine after threats to his life. |
| He described those who drove him from power as "young neo-fascist thugs". | He described those who drove him from power as "young neo-fascist thugs". |
| Mr Yanukovych was ousted last Saturday, after a bloody crackdown on anti-government protesters. | Mr Yanukovych was ousted last Saturday, after a bloody crackdown on anti-government protesters. |
| Tensions have risen since he stepped down, especially in the Russian-majority Crimea region, which largely supports Mr Yanukovych. | |
| On Friday, Ukraine accused Russia of carrying out an "armed invasion" in Crimea by sending naval forces to occupy Sevastopol airport. Moscow has denied the claims. | |
| Reappearance | Reappearance |
| "I intend to continue to struggle for the future of Ukraine, against terror and fear," Mr Yanukovych told the news conference in the city of Rostov-on-Don. | |
| "I can't find words to characterise this new authority. These are people who advocate violence - the Ukrainian parliament is illegitimate. | "I can't find words to characterise this new authority. These are people who advocate violence - the Ukrainian parliament is illegitimate. |
| "What's going on now is lawlessness, lack of authority, and terror. Decisions in parliament were taken under duress." | |
| He apologised to the Ukrainian people for not having "enough strength to keep stability" and for allowing "lawlessness in this country". | |
| He insisted he did not "flee anywhere", explaining that his car was shot at as he left Kiev for the north-east city of Kharkiv and he was forced to move around Ukraine amid fears for the safety of himself and his family. | |
| He said he was given refuge in Rostov, near the Ukrainian border, by an old friend. | |
| Speaking in Russian, Mr Yanukovych said he would return to Ukraine "as soon as there are guarantees for my security and that of my family". | |
| But he ruled out taking part in elections planned for 25 May, describing them as "illegal". | |
| Earlier, Ukraine's general prosecutor said he would ask Russia to extradite Mr Yanukovych on suspicion of mass murder following the deaths of more than 80 people in last week's violent clashes between protesters and the police. | |
| In other developments: | In other developments: |