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Ukraine crisis: Odessa detainees freed as police HQ attacked Ukraine crisis: Odessa detainees freed as police HQ attacked
(about 5 hours later)
Pro-Russian activists have attacked the police headquarters in Ukraine's southern city of Odessa, forcing the release of several people held over deadly violence two days ago. More than 60 people arrested over Friday's violence in the Ukrainian port city of Odessa have been freed by police after protesters attacked the main police station.
Friday's clashes led to more than 40 deaths. Most victims were pro-Russian separatists killed when the building they were in caught fire. Several hundred pro-Russian protesters besieged the police headquarters, breaking through windows and doors.
Ukraine's interim PM has accused police of failing to prevent the violence. The clashes on Friday left more than 40 dead, mostly pro-Russian separatists killed in a building fire.
He was speaking as Ukrainian troops encircled Sloviansk in the east. Ukraine's interim PM has accused police of failing to prevent Friday's unrest.
The army operation is trying to wrest control from separatists who have taken over a government buildings in a number of towns. Arseniy Yatsenyuk has ordered a full investigation, and said the violence was "part of a plan fomented by Russia to destroy Ukraine".
Hundreds of people descended on the police headquarters on Sunday afternoon in an initially peaceful protest calling for the released of those detained. "Russia's aim was to repeat in Odessa what is happening in the east of the country," he said.
"We've gathered here in a protest against the illegal government and to get our guys released, citizens of Odessa", said one woman. Ukrainian troops are carrying out operations in the east to wrest control of government buildings from pro-Russia separatists.
"They call us separatists and pro-Russians, but we're just ordinary Russian Odessa citizens, we've actually always been more Russian." The troops have encircled Sloviansk, where pro-Russians appear to control the centre.
The gathering turned violent as protesters - some wearing masks and carrying improvised weapons - broke windows and forced the gates. But Mr Yatsenyuk insisted Kiev had not lost control entirely.
There were chants of "Russia, Russia" and "Russians won't abandon their own". He said much would depend on whether local populations "support peace and stability or whether they support those who are sponsored by Russian".
A number of detainees were then released by the police, apparently in an attempt to pacify the crowds. Reuters, quoting police sources, put the number freed at 30. The interior ministry, in a statement quoted by the Associated Press, said 67 people were released. 'Russians won't abandon their own'
Odessa had been observing a day of mourning for those killed on Friday, when running street battles involving petrol bombs led to a fire breaking out on the third floor of a trade union building. On Friday, running street battles involving petrol bombs led to a fire breaking out on the third floor of a trade union building.
Dozens of pro-Russian activists had barricaded themselves inside. While some were rescued, 38 people either burned, suffocated or jumped to their deaths. Dozens of pro-Russian activists had barricaded themselves inside. While some were rescued, 38 people either burned, suffocated or jumped to their deaths. Others died from gunshot wounds in the clashes.
Moscow and Kiev have blamed each other's supporters for the fire. As Odessa observed a day of mourning on Sunday, hundreds of pro-Russian activists marched on the police station demanding those arrested over the clashes were released.
On Sunday, many visited the burned out trade union building, which now has a large Russian flag draped on one wall, to pay tribute. The initially peaceful gathering turned violent as protesters - some wearing masks and carrying improvised weapons - broke windows and forced the gates.
Interim PM Arseniy Yatsenyuk, who has travelled to Odessa, has ordered a full investigation into what happened, saying the authorities did "nothing to stop this crackdown", and were "inefficient and they violated the law". Police then released 67 detainees, to cheers from the crowds of "Russia, Russia" and "Russians won't abandon their own".
He told a news conference that all the senior police in the city had been fired and would be replaced. The prosecutor's office later accused the police officers involved of "blatant disregard for their duties", and said it had had no part in ordering the releases.
But he said the unrest was "part of a plan fomented by Russia to destroy Ukraine". In diplomatic developments on Sunday, Russia's President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke by telephone.
"Russia's aim was to repeat in Odessa what is happening in the east of the country," where pro-Russian forces have taken control of government buildings in a number of towns, he said. The Kremlin said they had agreed on the importance of further dialogue, and that the president of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Didier Burkhalter, would visit Moscow on Wednesday for talks.
Mr Yatsenyuk insisted Kiev had not lost control entirely, saying much would depend on whether local populations "support peace and stability or whether they support those who are sponsored by Russian".
Ukraine's pro-Moscow President Viktor Yanukovych was overthrown by pro-Western protesters in February.Ukraine's pro-Moscow President Viktor Yanukovych was overthrown by pro-Western protesters in February.
Are you in Odessa? Have you seen the attacks? What are your views on the current situation? Email your comments to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk putting the word 'Ukraine' in the subject heading.Are you in Odessa? Have you seen the attacks? What are your views on the current situation? Email your comments to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk putting the word 'Ukraine' in the subject heading.