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Ukraine crisis: Kramatorsk shooting reported Ukraine crisis: Exchange of fire in Kramatorsk, minister says
(about 1 hour later)
Ukraine's interim interior minister says firing has broken out in Kramatorsk, in the Donetsk region. A gun battle has erupted in the eastern Ukrainian town of Kramatorsk, the acting interior minister says.
Arsen Avakov said the gun battle began when men tried to storm local administration buildings and police fired back. Arsen Avakov said it began when unidentified gunmen tried to storm local administration buildings and police fired back.
Several more official buildings were reported to have been seized in eastern Ukraine on Saturday. Several other official buildings were reported to have been seized in eastern Ukraine on Saturday.
The confrontations come amid rising tension between the new government and pro-Russia protesters.The confrontations come amid rising tension between the new government and pro-Russia protesters.
Earlier, gunmen occupied a police station and a security services building in the town of Sloviansk. Official buildings in Druzhkovka were also reported to have been taken over.Earlier, gunmen occupied a police station and a security services building in the town of Sloviansk. Official buildings in Druzhkovka were also reported to have been taken over.
A Donetsk police chief also quit after pro-Russian crowds marched on a police station demanding his resignation. A Donetsk regional police chief also quit after pro-Russia crowds marched on a police station demanding his resignation.
Ukrainian TV channel 5 Kanal has aired remarks by the former police chief Kostyantyn Pozhydayev, saying over the phone that he had resigned in a bid to avoid bloodshed.
"Protesters came to me. So as to prevent bloodshed, I decided to tender my resignation to the [interior] minister," he said.
The same channel also showed Pozhydayev's deputy, Andriy Anosov, captioned as police chief, inviting pro-Russia protesters to work together with the police to prevent violence and looting.
The new government in Kiev accuses Moscow of orchestrating the unrest in the east of the country.
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 pro-Russian 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.
The new government in Kiev accuses Moscow of orchestrating the unrest in eastern Ukraine. But Russia denies responsibility.
Repelled
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. Trouble continued in several towns and cities on Saturday despite the Kiev government setting a deadline of Friday for all occupations to end.
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. "Kramatorsk. An attack is under way. Unknown persons fired shots at the district police department. The police are firing shots in response. A shootout is under way," Mr Avakov wrote on his Facebook page late on Saturday.
The US and EU have imposed sanctions on Russian and Crimean people they say were connected with the takeover. He also reported that an attack on police buildings in Krasny Liman late in the day had been repelled. The gunmen there had been equipped with Russian-made Kalashnikov assault rifles, he added.
There were no reports of casualties in Kramatorsk or Krasny Liman and Mr Avakov's comments could not be independently verified.
Earlier, in the town of Sloviansk, dozens of unidentified armed men in camouflage uniform seized the police station and security service premises.
The aim of the attack at the police station - according to the Interior Ministry - was to seize arms as some 40 automatic rifles and 400 pistols were stored there along with ammunition.
But a member of the group involved in the Sloviansk seizure said they wanted 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.
He said those involved were peaceful Donbass residents and "not fascists".
The acting interior minister has promised a "very tough" response.
In the regional centre Donetsk, police chief Kostyantyn Pozhydayev stood down after pressure from pro-Russia protesters.
"Protesters came to me. So as to prevent bloodshed, I decided to tender my resignation to the [interior] minister," he said in remarks broadcast by Ukrainian TV channel 5 Kanal.
The same channel also showed his deputy, Andriy Anosov - captioned as police chief - inviting pro-Russia protesters to work together with the police to prevent violence and looting.