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| Ukraine accuses Russia of deploying troops in Crimea | Ukraine accuses Russia of deploying troops in Crimea |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Ukraine's acting President Oleksander Turchynov has accused Russia of deploying troops to Crimea and trying to provoke Kiev into "armed conflict". | Ukraine's acting President Oleksander Turchynov has accused Russia of deploying troops to Crimea and trying to provoke Kiev into "armed conflict". |
| In a TV address, he said Moscow wanted the new interim government to react to provocations so it could annex Crimea. | In a TV address, he said Moscow wanted the new interim government to react to provocations so it could annex Crimea. |
| Russia's UN ambassador said any troop movements in Crimea were within an existing arrangement with Ukraine. | Russia's UN ambassador said any troop movements in Crimea were within an existing arrangement with Ukraine. |
| US President Barack Obama warned of the "costs" of any Russian intervention in the Ukraine. | US President Barack Obama warned of the "costs" of any Russian intervention in the Ukraine. |
| In a statement from the White House he said: "Any violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity would be deeply destabilising, which is not in the interests of Ukraine, Russia or Europe." | In a statement from the White House he said: "Any violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity would be deeply destabilising, which is not in the interests of Ukraine, Russia or Europe." |
| He said Washington stood by Ukraine's new interim government and commended "its restraint and its commitment to uphold its international obligations". | He said Washington stood by Ukraine's new interim government and commended "its restraint and its commitment to uphold its international obligations". |
| President Turchynov appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin to "stop provocations and start negotiations". | President Turchynov appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin to "stop provocations and start negotiations". |
| He said Russia was behaving as it did before sending troops into Georgia in 2008 over the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which have large ethnic Russian populations. | He said Russia was behaving as it did before sending troops into Georgia in 2008 over the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which have large ethnic Russian populations. |
| "They are implementing the scenario like the one carried out in Abkhazia, when after provoking a conflict, they started an annexation of the territory," President Turchynov said. | "They are implementing the scenario like the one carried out in Abkhazia, when after provoking a conflict, they started an annexation of the territory," President Turchynov said. |
| Protecting 'strategic sites' | Protecting 'strategic sites' |
| His statement came a few hours after the Kremlin said President Putin had spoken of the "extreme importance of not allowing a further escalation of violence" during telephone conversations with Western leaders. | His statement came a few hours after the Kremlin said President Putin had spoken of the "extreme importance of not allowing a further escalation of violence" during telephone conversations with Western leaders. |
| However, flights from and to the Crimean capital, Simferopol, were cancelled with airlines saying airspace over the peninsula had been closed. | However, flights from and to the Crimean capital, Simferopol, were cancelled with airlines saying airspace over the peninsula had been closed. |
| Senior Ukrainian official Sergiy Kunitsyn told local media 13 Russian aircraft carrying nearly 2,000 suspected troops had landed at a military air base near Simferopol. This remains unconfirmed. | Senior Ukrainian official Sergiy Kunitsyn told local media 13 Russian aircraft carrying nearly 2,000 suspected troops had landed at a military air base near Simferopol. This remains unconfirmed. |
| Russia's ambassador to the UN, Vitaly Churkin, said that any Russian military movements in Crimea were within Moscow's long-standing arrangement with Ukraine on the deployment of military assets. | Russia's ambassador to the UN, Vitaly Churkin, said that any Russian military movements in Crimea were within Moscow's long-standing arrangement with Ukraine on the deployment of military assets. |
| "We are acting within the framework of that agreement," he said, after a closed-door meeting of the UN Security Council. | "We are acting within the framework of that agreement," he said, after a closed-door meeting of the UN Security Council. |
| He did not give details of any Russian military deployment. | He did not give details of any Russian military deployment. |
| Earlier in the day, Russian armoured vehicles and helicopters were seen in and around Simferopol and Sevastopol, where Russia's Black Sea Fleet are based. | Earlier in the day, Russian armoured vehicles and helicopters were seen in and around Simferopol and Sevastopol, where Russia's Black Sea Fleet are based. |
| Armed men in unidentified military uniforms, believed to be loyal to Russia, have moved in on Crimea's parliament, state television building and telecommunication centres. | Armed men in unidentified military uniforms, believed to be loyal to Russia, have moved in on Crimea's parliament, state television building and telecommunication centres. |
| They are also patrolling the airports in Simferopol and Sevastopol. | They are also patrolling the airports in Simferopol and Sevastopol. |
| The editor of the main television station told the BBC he was informed the men were protecting strategic points in the area, in this case the broadcasting tower. | The editor of the main television station told the BBC he was informed the men were protecting strategic points in the area, in this case the broadcasting tower. |
| Ukraine has formally lodged a protest with Russia over what it called a violation of Ukrainian airspace and a failure to observe an agreement on the stationing of Russia troops in Crimea. | Ukraine has formally lodged a protest with Russia over what it called a violation of Ukrainian airspace and a failure to observe an agreement on the stationing of Russia troops in Crimea. |
| On Friday, Ukraine's former President Viktor Yanukovych made his first public appearance since being ousted from office a week ago. | On Friday, Ukraine's former President Viktor Yanukovych made his first public appearance since being ousted from office a week ago. |
| At a news conference in Russia, he apologised for not "having enough strength to keep stability" in Ukraine and called his usurpers "young, neo-fascist thugs". | At a news conference in Russia, he apologised for not "having enough strength to keep stability" in Ukraine and called his usurpers "young, neo-fascist thugs". |
| Mr Yanukovych said he would "continue to struggle for the future of Ukraine", but said he would only return if his safety could be guaranteed. | |
| Ukraine has started procedures demanding his extradition. | Ukraine has started procedures demanding his extradition. |
| He is wanted on suspicion of mass murder following violent clashes between police and protesters last week that left more than 80 dead. | He is wanted on suspicion of mass murder following violent clashes between police and protesters last week that left more than 80 dead. |
| Kiev had been in political deadlock since last November when Mr Yanukovych rejected a trade deal with the EU in favour of a similar agreement with Russia. | Kiev had been in political deadlock since last November when Mr Yanukovych rejected a trade deal with the EU in favour of a similar agreement with Russia. |
| The move brought thousands of Western-leaning protesters out on to the streets calling for his resignation and closer ties with the EU. | The move brought thousands of Western-leaning protesters out on to the streets calling for his resignation and closer ties with the EU. |
| Since he was deposed, the tensions have shifted to Crimea, where the majority of the population are ethnic Russians. | Since he was deposed, the tensions have shifted to Crimea, where the majority of the population are ethnic Russians. |
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