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Ukraine crisis: Rebel self-rule referendums 'a farce' Ukraine crisis: Self-rule referendums 'a farce'
(about 1 hour later)
Ukraine's interim President Oleksandr Turchynov has condemned the unofficial referendums organised by pro-Russia groups in the east of the country as "a farce" with no legal basis. Ukraine has condemned two unofficial referendums organised by pro-Russia groups in the east of the country as "a farce" with no legal basis.
Separatists in the Donetsk region have claimed victory in a "self-rule" referendum, saying 89% voted in favour. Separatists in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions say 89% and 96% respectively voted in favour of "self-rule".
And in the region of Luhansk, some 96% are said to have voted for self-rule.
BBC reporters at polling stations on Sunday witnessed few checks on identity and multiple voting in places.BBC reporters at polling stations on Sunday witnessed few checks on identity and multiple voting in places.
Mr Turchynov told Ukraine's parliament that "the farce that terrorist separatists call a referendum is nothing more than propaganda to cover up murders, kidnappings, violence and other serious crimes". Russia has called for the results to be implemented without any further outbreaks of violence.
In a brief statement, the Kremlin described the referendums as "the will of the people" and noted the "high turnout".
The Kremlin denounced what it claimed had been "attempts to disrupt the votes, with the use of force, including the use of heavy weapons, against civilians", reports the BBC's Steve Rosenberg in Moscow.
The Russian authorities said they expected the results of the vote to be implemented in a civilised manner, without any repetition of violence and called for dialogue between Kiev, Donetsk and Luhansk.
The Kremlin suggested that the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) could help organise such a dialogue.
Later Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said there were no plans to hold fresh international talks on the crisis - he accused the West of an "information blockade" over events in Ukraine and of "shameless lies".
Earlier, Ukraine's interim President Oleksandr Turchynov told Ukraine's parliament that "the farce that terrorist separatists call a referendum is nothing more than propaganda to cover up murders, kidnappings, violence and other serious crimes".
The EU and US also said the polls were illegal.The EU and US also said the polls were illegal.
Dutch Foreign Minister Frans Timmermans has said he expected EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels on Monday to agree to expand sanctions against Russia over Ukraine, Reuters news agency reports. On Monday, British Foreign Minister William said, as he went into a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels, the European Union might impose further sanctions on Russia should Moscow disrupt the Ukrainian presidential election on 25 May.
EU leaders have warned Russia it faces further sanctions if Ukraine's presidential election fails to go ahead. A number of towns in the two eastern regions refused to hold the referendums.
A number of towns in the two eastern regions refused to hold the poll. They were held despite an earlier call by Russian President Vladimir Putin to delay them in order to create the conditions necessary for dialogue.
The referendums were held despite an earlier call by Russian President Vladimir Putin to delay them in order to create the conditions necessary for dialogue.
The Kremlin has so far made no official comments after the voting ended.
'Occupying forces'
The head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic election commission, Roman Lyagin, told journalists several hours after the vote ended that 89.07% voted in favour of self-rule, with 10.19% against, with 0.74% of the ballots declared invalid.
Turnout was put at nearly 75% in Donetsk.
In other developments:In other developments:
After the first round of voting in which voters were asked whether they supported self-rule, a second round of voting is planned in a week's time, asking whether people support joining Russia.After the first round of voting in which voters were asked whether they supported self-rule, a second round of voting is planned in a week's time, asking whether people support joining Russia.
Organisers also say they will boycott Ukraine's presidential elections on 25 May.Organisers also say they will boycott Ukraine's presidential elections on 25 May.
Russia annexed Ukraine's southern autonomous republic of Crimea after a March referendum.Russia annexed Ukraine's southern autonomous republic of Crimea after a March referendum.
Russia is estimated to have some 40,000 troops near the border and says they have been pulled back, but Nato says it has seen no sign of this.Russia is estimated to have some 40,000 troops near the border and says they have been pulled back, but Nato says it has seen no sign of this.
Are you in Donetsk or Luhansk region, or elsewhere in Ukraine? What do you think of the "self-rule" referendums? Send us your thoughts by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line "Ukraine".Are you in Donetsk or Luhansk region, or elsewhere in Ukraine? What do you think of the "self-rule" referendums? Send us your thoughts by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line "Ukraine".