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| Ukraine crisis: Thousands demonstrate in rival rallies | |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| Tens of thousands of people in Ukraine have held rival pro-unity and pro-Russian rallies, as Moscow continues to strengthen its grip on Crimea. | Tens of thousands of people in Ukraine have held rival pro-unity and pro-Russian rallies, as Moscow continues to strengthen its grip on Crimea. |
| Pro-Russia supporters beat up their opponents in Sevastopol, Crimea. | Pro-Russia supporters beat up their opponents in Sevastopol, Crimea. |
| In the eastern city of Luhansk, pro-Russian activists seized regional offices forcing the governor to resign. | In the eastern city of Luhansk, pro-Russian activists seized regional offices forcing the governor to resign. |
| UK and German leaders telephoned Russian President Vladimir Putin to urge him to pull back from Crimea. The region is to vote to secede next week. | UK and German leaders telephoned Russian President Vladimir Putin to urge him to pull back from Crimea. The region is to vote to secede next week. |
| Addressing a huge crowd in Kiev to mark the 200th birth anniversary of national poet Taras Shevchenko, Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk pledged not to give a "single centimetre" of Ukrainian land to the Kremlin. | Addressing a huge crowd in Kiev to mark the 200th birth anniversary of national poet Taras Shevchenko, Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk pledged not to give a "single centimetre" of Ukrainian land to the Kremlin. |
| Ukraine's defence minister has said Kiev has no plans to send the army to Crimea. | Ukraine's defence minister has said Kiev has no plans to send the army to Crimea. |
| In other developments on Sunday: | In other developments on Sunday: |
| In Sevastopol, the violence erupted when pro-Russian groups attacked dozens of people guarding the Shevchenko rally. | In Sevastopol, the violence erupted when pro-Russian groups attacked dozens of people guarding the Shevchenko rally. |
| The crowd threw missiles at a car as the activists tried to flee the scene, smashing windows. A BBC reporter in Sevastopol described the scenes as very ugly. | The crowd threw missiles at a car as the activists tried to flee the scene, smashing windows. A BBC reporter in Sevastopol described the scenes as very ugly. |
| Some of the attackers were Russian Cossacks with whips. | Some of the attackers were Russian Cossacks with whips. |
| The rally was attended by about 200 people. | The rally was attended by about 200 people. |
| A rival pro-Russian demonstration was also staged in the city - the base of Russia's Black Sea Fleet. | A rival pro-Russian demonstration was also staged in the city - the base of Russia's Black Sea Fleet. |
| Moscow has been tightening its military grip on the Crimean peninsula. | Moscow has been tightening its military grip on the Crimean peninsula. |
| Mr Putin has insisted he has the right to protect Russian interests and the rights of ethnic Russians there. | Mr Putin has insisted he has the right to protect Russian interests and the rights of ethnic Russians there. |
| Mr Putin said "the steps taken by Crimea's legitimate authorities are based on international law". | Mr Putin said "the steps taken by Crimea's legitimate authorities are based on international law". |
| However, German Chancellor Angela Merkel told him on Sunday that she considered the 16 March referendum on whether to secede from Ukraine and join Russia illegal. | However, German Chancellor Angela Merkel told him on Sunday that she considered the 16 March referendum on whether to secede from Ukraine and join Russia illegal. |
| Unrest in Ukraine erupted in November, following former President Viktor Yanukovych's last-minute rejection of a landmark EU deal in favour of a bailout from Russia. | Unrest in Ukraine erupted in November, following former President Viktor Yanukovych's last-minute rejection of a landmark EU deal in favour of a bailout from Russia. |
| Mr Yanukovych was ousted last month, and a new government has been voted in by the Ukrainian parliament. | Mr Yanukovych was ousted last month, and a new government has been voted in by the Ukrainian parliament. |
| Presidential elections are scheduled for 25 May. | Presidential elections are scheduled for 25 May. |