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Ukraine crisis: Separatists to debate Putin referendum call Ukraine crisis: Pro-Russia rebel vote to go ahead
(about 1 hour later)
Pro-Russian activists in eastern Ukraine are due to consider a proposal by Russian President Vladimir Putin to delay referendums on autonomy. Pro-Russian activists in eastern Ukraine have said they will not postpone a referendum on independence planned for Sunday.
Separatist leaders in Donetsk and Luhansk say they will put the matter before "people's councils". The decision comes one day after Russian President Vladimir Putin urged delaying the vote to create the conditions necessary for dialogue.
The referendums are due to take place on Sunday and millions of ballot papers have been prepared. But Ukrainian authorities said "anti-terror" operations would continue regardless of the rebels' decision.
Mr Putin has said putting off the vote could help create the conditions necessary for dialogue. Millions of ballot papers have been prepared for the vote.
In what appeared to be a shift in Russian policy, Mr Putin also said this month's presidential elections in Ukraine were a move "in the right direction". In what appeared to be a further shift in Russian policy, Mr Putin also said on Wednesday that this month's presidential elections in Ukraine were a move "in the right direction".
His remarks came days after his spokesman said holding such an election would be absurd.His remarks came days after his spokesman said holding such an election would be absurd.
'Illegitimate vote'
Moscow has vowed to protect the rights of the largely Russian-speaking people in the south and east against what it calls an undemocratic government in Kiev.Moscow has vowed to protect the rights of the largely Russian-speaking people in the south and east against what it calls an undemocratic government in Kiev.
Ukraine's interim authorities have rejected pro-Russian activists' demands for greater autonomy and sent in troops to seize back official buildings occupied by rebels. But Ukrainian interim Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniyuk dismissed Mr Putin's calls as "hot air".
"We respect Putin's stance," said Denis Pushilin, a pro-Russian leader in the eastern city of Donetsk. Ukrainian authorities have rejected activist demands for greater autonomy and troops have been battling to regain official buildings occupied by rebels in the east.
"He is a balanced politician. Therefore we will submit his proposal to the people's council." On Thursday Ukraine's national security council confirmed military operations would continue.
In Luhansk, a statement from pro-Russian groups quoted by Russian news agency Ria Novosti said: "We are putting this forward for discussion by all the people because Putin has appealed to supporters of federalisation, therefore a decision will be for all the people of Luhansk." "The counterterrorist operation will go on regardless of any decisions by any subversive or terrorist groups in the Donetsk region," the council's secretary Andriy Parubiy said.
Their decision comes as a Pew Research Center poll released on Thursday shows that a strong majority of Ukrainians want their country to remain unified, even in the largely Russian-speaking east.
The White House said the "illegitimate, illegal" vote should be cancelled rather than postponed.The White House said the "illegitimate, illegal" vote should be cancelled rather than postponed.
And Ukrainian interim Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk dismissed Mr Putin's calls as "hot air". The US and the European Union have imposed sanctions against several Russian individuals and businesses and threatened wider measures if Moscow interferes further in eastern Ukraine.
The US and the European Union have imposed sanctions against several Russian individuals and businesses and threatened wider measures if Moscow interferes further.
Sunday's planned referendum was seen as a potential trigger for that.Sunday's planned referendum was seen as a potential trigger for that.
Confrontations
On Wednesday, President Putin also announced he was ordering Russian troops back from the Ukrainian border.On Wednesday, President Putin also announced he was ordering Russian troops back from the Ukrainian border.
However, Nato and the Pentagon said they had seen no signs of a Russian pull-back. But one day after Mr Putin's comments, Nato said there was still no sign of any Russian troop withdrawal.
On Ukraine's forthcoming presidential elections, Mr Putin said: "I would like to stress that... while they are a move in the right direction, [they] will not decide anything if all the citizens of Ukraine fail to understand how their rights are protected after the elections are held."
Unrest in the south and east of Ukraine has worsened since Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula in March.Unrest in the south and east of Ukraine has worsened since Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula in March.
That followed the ousting of Ukraine's pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych in February by pro-Western protesters.That followed the ousting of Ukraine's pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych in February by pro-Western protesters.
On Thursday there was further unrest in the southern port of Mariupol, where pro-Russian separatists had earlier retaken the city hall after it was briefly seized from them by Ukrainian government forces.
The BBC's Sarah Rainsford in the city reports that residents were surprised to hear of President Putin's call to postpone the referendums - pro-Russian activists continued distributing flyers and banners still flew.
Our correspondent met one woman, Lena, who said of President Putin: "We'll listen to him...but we will decide".