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Ukraine gunmen seize two buildings in Sloviansk Ukraine gunmen seize buildings in Sloviansk
(about 2 hours later)
Armed men have seized a police station and a security services building in eastern Ukraine, officials say. Further seizures of official buildings have been reported in east Ukraine as tensions over the country's new government rise.
Police said the men fired shots and used stun grenades to seize the offices in Sloviansk, near the Russian border. Gunmen occupied a police station and a security services building in the town of Sloviansk. Official buildings in Druzhkovka were reportedly taken over.
The interior minister called the gunmen "terrorists" and said special forces would repel the attack. A Donetsk police chief quit after pro-Russian crowds marched on a police station demanding his resignation.
Pro-Russian activists have seized government buildings elsewhere in east Ukraine. Kiev accuses Moscow of orchestrating the unrest. The new government in Kiev accuses Moscow of orchestrating the unrest.
Interim Foreign Minister Andrei Deshchytsia urged Moscow to end "provocative" actions by its agents.Interim Foreign Minister Andrei Deshchytsia urged Moscow to end "provocative" actions by its agents.
Eastern Ukraine has a large Russian-speaking population and has seen a series of protests since the ousting of President Viktor Yanukovych in February. Eastern Ukraine has a large Russian-speaking population and has seen a series of protests since the ousting of pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych in February.
Protesters in largely Russian-speaking Donetsk, 130km (80 miles) from Sloviansk, have been occupying government buildings for days and demanding a referendum on becoming part of Russia.Protesters in largely Russian-speaking Donetsk, 130km (80 miles) from Sloviansk, have been occupying government buildings for days and demanding a referendum on becoming part of Russia.
A similar move prompted a Russian takeover of Ukraine's Crimea region earlier this year.A similar move prompted a Russian takeover of Ukraine's Crimea region earlier this year.
The US and EU have put sanctions on Russian and Crimean people they say were connected with the takeover.The US and EU have put sanctions on Russian and Crimean people they say were connected with the takeover.
Russia has denied responsibility for the protests in eastern Ukraine, but Western nations have expressed concern over a build-up of Russian troops along the border.Russia has denied responsibility for the protests in eastern Ukraine, but Western nations have expressed concern over a build-up of Russian troops along the border.
Trouble continued in several towns and cities on Saturday despite the Kiev government setting a deadline of Friday for all occupations to end.
Interim Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk visited Donetsk on Friday and attempted to placate anti-government groups by guaranteeing that no restrictions would be put on the use of the Russian language.Interim Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk visited Donetsk on Friday and attempted to placate anti-government groups by guaranteeing that no restrictions would be put on the use of the Russian language.
The Kiev government had set a deadline of Friday for all occupations to end, but trouble continued in several cities in the east. 'Tough response'
Meanwhile, regional police spokesman Ihor Dyomin described how armed men were bussed to the police station in Sloviansk. Regional police spokesman Ihor Dyomin described how armed men were bussed to the police station in Sloviansk.
"Six or seven unknown persons got out. They fired several shots in the air and attempted to storm the police department," he said."Six or seven unknown persons got out. They fired several shots in the air and attempted to storm the police department," he said.
He added that "people in camouflage uniform" and with weapons" were inside the building.He added that "people in camouflage uniform" and with weapons" were inside the building.
Interim Interior Minister Arsen Avakov promised to deal with the attackers.Interim Interior Minister Arsen Avakov promised to deal with the attackers.
"The response will be very tough because there is a difference between protesters and terrorists," he said in Ukrainian on his Facebook page."The response will be very tough because there is a difference between protesters and terrorists," he said in Ukrainian on his Facebook page.
The Interior Ministry said the aim of the attack was to seize arms from the police station, where some 40 automatic rifles and 400 pistols were stored along with ammunition.The Interior Ministry said the aim of the attack was to seize arms from the police station, where some 40 automatic rifles and 400 pistols were stored along with ammunition.
One of those who seized the police station said the group had gone to Sloviansk to fight people who represented the illegal authorities of interim President Oleksandr Turchynov, according to a video posted on Youtube.One of those who seized the police station said the group had gone to Sloviansk to fight people who represented the illegal authorities of interim President Oleksandr Turchynov, according to a video posted on Youtube.
Interviewed in Russian, the man said they represented the People's Front of Donbass - the industrial Donets Basin region in eastern Ukraine.Interviewed in Russian, the man said they represented the People's Front of Donbass - the industrial Donets Basin region in eastern Ukraine.
He said those involved were peaceful Donbass residents and "not fascists".He said those involved were peaceful Donbass residents and "not fascists".
The BBC's David Stern, who was briefly in Sloviansk on Saturday, said from what he saw the take-over was well-organised and the gunmen were quickly spreading their control throughout the town and beyond.The BBC's David Stern, who was briefly in Sloviansk on Saturday, said from what he saw the take-over was well-organised and the gunmen were quickly spreading their control throughout the town and beyond.
The roadblocks were being reinforced with more tyres as he left, and the people manning them were well-armed, he said.The roadblocks were being reinforced with more tyres as he left, and the people manning them were well-armed, he said.
The occupation by pro-Russian groups of the local government building in Donetsk is meanwhile continuing. Late on Saturday, pro-Russian activists seized the town administration in Druzhkovka, according to RBK-Ukraine media sources.
The occupation by pro-Russian groups of the local government building in the regional capital Donetsk is meanwhile continuing.
Alexander Gnezdilov, the protesters' unofficial spokesperson, told the BBC the group that seized Sloviansk police HQ was "an independent group who are supporting the Donetsk protest".Alexander Gnezdilov, the protesters' unofficial spokesperson, told the BBC the group that seized Sloviansk police HQ was "an independent group who are supporting the Donetsk protest".
Also on Saturday, hundreds of pro-Russian protesters marched towards a police station in the regional capital Donetsk. In Donetsk itself hundreds of pro-Russian protesters marched towards a police station demanding the resignation of a regional police chief, Kostyantyn Pozhydayev.
They threatened to storm the building, demanding the resignation of city police chief Kostyantyn Pozhydayev.
He later told the protesters he was standing down.He later told the protesters he was standing down.
A Reuters witness said the Ukrainian flag above the police headquarters in Donetsk had been replaced by a separatist flag.