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| Ukrainian ex-leader Viktor Yanukovych vows fightback | Ukrainian ex-leader Viktor Yanukovych vows fightback |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Viktor Yanukovych has vowed to fight for Ukraine in his first public appearance since being ousted as president last week. | Viktor Yanukovych has vowed to fight for Ukraine in his first public appearance since being ousted as president last week. |
| Speaking in Russia, he said he was "not overthrown" but was compelled to leave Ukraine after threats to his life. | Speaking in Russia, he said he was "not overthrown" but was compelled to leave Ukraine after threats to his life. |
| In the latest flare-up, Ukraine has accused Russian troops of seizing two airports in the Crimea region. | |
| Mr Yanukovych said tensions in Crimea were "understandable" but insisted military action was not the answer. | Mr Yanukovych said tensions in Crimea were "understandable" but insisted military action was not the answer. |
| Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov earlier accused Russia of carrying out an "armed invasion" in Crimea, after unidentified armed men took over Sevastopol and Simferopol airports. Moscow denies the allegations. | |
| On Thursday, armed men moved in to the regional parliament building and hoisted the Russian flag to cheers from pro-Russian demonstrators below. | |
| In other developments: | |
| 'Bandit coup' | |
| "I intend to continue to struggle for the future of Ukraine, against terror and fear," Mr Yanukovych told the news conference in the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don. | "I intend to continue to struggle for the future of Ukraine, against terror and fear," Mr Yanukovych told the news conference in the Russian 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." | "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 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 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 arrived in Russia "thanks to a patriotically-minded young officer" and was given refuge in Rostov, near the Ukrainian border, by an old friend. | He said he arrived in Russia "thanks to a patriotically-minded young officer" and 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". | 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". | But he ruled out taking part in elections planned for 25 May, describing them as "illegal". |
| And he made clear his view that the only way out of the crisis is to implement an EU-backed compromise agreement he signed with opposition leaders last week before he was deposed. | And he made clear his view that the only way out of the crisis is to implement an EU-backed compromise agreement he signed with opposition leaders last week before he was deposed. |
| He said the current turmoil in Crimea was "an absolutely natural reaction to the bandit coup that occurred in Kiev" and added that he was surprised by the restraint shown by Russian President Vladimir Putin so far. | He said the current turmoil in Crimea was "an absolutely natural reaction to the bandit coup that occurred in Kiev" and added that he was surprised by the restraint shown by Russian President Vladimir Putin so far. |
| But he also stressed that "military action in this situation is unacceptable" and said he wanted Crimea to remain part of Ukraine. | But he also stressed that "military action in this situation is unacceptable" and said he wanted Crimea to remain part of Ukraine. |
| 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. | 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. |
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