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Ukraine offers amnesty to pro-Russian separatists Ukraine offers amnesty to pro-Russian separatists
(35 minutes later)
Ukraine will not prosecute pro-Russian activists occupying official buildings in two eastern cities if they surrender their weapons, Ukraine's acting President Olexander Turchynov says.Ukraine will not prosecute pro-Russian activists occupying official buildings in two eastern cities if they surrender their weapons, Ukraine's acting President Olexander Turchynov says.
The separatists are holding buildings in the cities of Luhansk and Donetsk. The Kiev authorities say their actions could give Russia a pretext to invade.The separatists are holding buildings in the cities of Luhansk and Donetsk. The Kiev authorities say their actions could give Russia a pretext to invade.
Ukraine has accused Russia of stirring up the unrest. Moscow has denied that.Ukraine has accused Russia of stirring up the unrest. Moscow has denied that.
Ukraine says it is conducting an "anti-terrorist operation" in the east. Nato says up to 40,000 Russian troops are massed near Ukraine's border.
Mr Turchynov told parliament in the capital Kiev that "there will be no criminal prosecution of people who give up their weapons and leave the buildings". 'Presidential order'
Ukraine has launched what it calls an "anti-terrorist operation" to tackle the separatists in the east. On Wednesday Kiev said the stand-off must end within 48 hours.
Mr Turchynov told parliament in the capital Kiev on Thursday that "there will be no criminal prosecution of people who give up their weapons and leave the buildings".
"I am willing to do this by presidential order," he said."I am willing to do this by presidential order," he said.
Ukraine fears that the Russian separatist actions are a provocation similar to the protests that gripped Crimea days before Russian troops annexed the peninsula last month.Ukraine fears that the Russian separatist actions are a provocation similar to the protests that gripped Crimea days before Russian troops annexed the peninsula last month.
Earlier, US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov agreed on the need to resolve the security situation in eastern Ukraine peacefully, officials said. The separatists in the east - a mainly Russian-speaking region with close ties to Russia - are demanding referendums on self-rule. In Donetsk they have declared a "people's republic".
After pro-Russian forces spread out across Crimea last month the new authorities there held a referendum which Moscow said legitimised its return to Russia. But the referendum was denounced internationally.
On Wednesday US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov agreed on the need to resolve the security situation in eastern Ukraine peacefully, officials said.
The EU, Russia, US and Ukraine are to meet next week for talks on the crisis.The EU, Russia, US and Ukraine are to meet next week for talks on the crisis.