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| Ukraine crisis: Crimea leader appeals to Putin for help | Ukraine crisis: Crimea leader appeals to Putin for help |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The new pro-Moscow leader of Ukraine's autonomous Crimea region has asked Russian President Vladimir Putin for help to ensure peace. | The new pro-Moscow leader of Ukraine's autonomous Crimea region has asked Russian President Vladimir Putin for help to ensure peace. |
| A Kremlin source said it would "not leave unnoticed" the request from Sergiy Aksyonov. | A Kremlin source said it would "not leave unnoticed" the request from Sergiy Aksyonov. |
| Reports speak of a clash overnight in Crimea's capital and an attempt to seize a Ukrainian missile base. | |
| Ukraine's interim Prime Minister, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, accused Russia of seeking to provoke an escalation. | Ukraine's interim Prime Minister, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, accused Russia of seeking to provoke an escalation. |
| He was speaking at the first meeting of his cabinet, installed after the overthrow of President Viktor Yanukovych. New Defence Minister Ihor Tenyukh accused Russia of "recently" deploying 6,000 extra soldiers to Ukraine. | |
| US President Barack Obama warned Moscow against any military intervention as unidentified soldiers, thought to be Russian, fanned out in the south of the peninsula, surrounding airports and communications centres. | |
| According to Mr Aksyonov, soldiers from Russia's Black Sea Fleet based in Crimea are helping to guard strategic buildings. | |
| Under the agreement governing the presence of the fleet in Crimea, the Russians must co-ordinate all troop movements outside the fleet's base areas with the Ukrainian authorities beforehand. | |
| European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has said he is shocked by reports of the "violation of Ukraine's sovereignty". | European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has said he is shocked by reports of the "violation of Ukraine's sovereignty". |
| Reports are coming in of a big pro-Russian rally in the east Ukrainian city of Donetsk. | |
| 'Only my orders' | 'Only my orders' |
| Heavily armed soldiers took up position outside the regional parliament in the Crimean capital, Simferopol, on Saturday. | |
| In a statement on its website, Russia's foreign ministry said several people had been hurt when "unidentified armed people sent from Kiev" tried to seize control of Crimea's interior ministry overnight. | |
| The attempt was rebuffed by "self-defence units", the ministry said. | |
| According to the Ukrainian news agency Unian, Russian soldiers have been trying to take control of a Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile unit near Yevpatoria, in Crimea. | |
| It quoted an unnamed Ukrainian military source as saying 15 Russian soldiers were trying to get into the command point, where personnel were sheltering behind a reinforced door. Guards at the installation had been "neutralised", the agency said. | |
| Mr Aksyonov, who leads the main pro-Russian party in Crimea, was elected prime minister of Crimea by the region's parliament this week in an emergency session, replacing Anatoliy Mohylyov. | Mr Aksyonov, who leads the main pro-Russian party in Crimea, was elected prime minister of Crimea by the region's parliament this week in an emergency session, replacing Anatoliy Mohylyov. |
| In the same vote, the parliament called a referendum on the status of Crimea, a region dominated by ethnic Russians. | In the same vote, the parliament called a referendum on the status of Crimea, a region dominated by ethnic Russians. |
| The Crimean prime minister has brought forward the vote to 30 March, from 25 May - the date of Ukraine's early presidential election. | The Crimean prime minister has brought forward the vote to 30 March, from 25 May - the date of Ukraine's early presidential election. |
| Mr Aksyonov's election was not approved by the new authorities in Kiev, who traditionally appoint the prime minister of Crimea, in consultation with the regional parliament. Mr Aksyonov has refused to recognise Ukraine's new government. | Mr Aksyonov's election was not approved by the new authorities in Kiev, who traditionally appoint the prime minister of Crimea, in consultation with the regional parliament. Mr Aksyonov has refused to recognise Ukraine's new government. |
| "I appeal to the president of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, to provide assistance in ensuring peace and tranquillity on the territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea," he said in a statement. | "I appeal to the president of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, to provide assistance in ensuring peace and tranquillity on the territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea," he said in a statement. |
| He went on to announce that he was taking control of security in Crimea "on a temporary basis". | He went on to announce that he was taking control of security in Crimea "on a temporary basis". |
| "All commanders are to obey only my orders and instructions," Mr Aksyonov said. "I ask all those who refuse to do so to resign." | "All commanders are to obey only my orders and instructions," Mr Aksyonov said. "I ask all those who refuse to do so to resign." |
| 'Escalation' | 'Escalation' |
| The new government in Kiev was formed this week by opposition parties and street activists. | The new government in Kiev was formed this week by opposition parties and street activists. |
| Mr Yatsenyuk said: "The presence of Russian soldiers is a provocation and we demand that Russian soldiers return to their permanent bases." | Mr Yatsenyuk said: "The presence of Russian soldiers is a provocation and we demand that Russian soldiers return to their permanent bases." |
| "We are taking no steps that could provoke a violent confrontation," he said. "All responsibility for the escalation of the conflict lies personally at the leadership of the Russian Federation." | "We are taking no steps that could provoke a violent confrontation," he said. "All responsibility for the escalation of the conflict lies personally at the leadership of the Russian Federation." |
| Viktor Yanukovych, who was deposed after months of unrest degenerated into bloodshed this month, made his first appearance in Russia on Friday, insisting he was still the legitimate president of Ukraine. | |
| In his address late on Friday, Mr Obama warned Russia there would be "costs" for any military intervention and commended Ukraine's interim government for its "restraint". | |
| "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. | |
| Mr Obama did not spell out what any US response might be but it could take the form of economic pressure by withholding the deeper trade ties that Moscow seeks. | Mr Obama did not spell out what any US response might be but it could take the form of economic pressure by withholding the deeper trade ties that Moscow seeks. |
| A G8 summit that Russia is due to host in June might also be boycotted. | A G8 summit that Russia is due to host in June might also be boycotted. |
| 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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