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Ukraine court backs self-rule plan for conflict zone | Ukraine court backs self-rule plan for conflict zone |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Ukraine's highest court has approved constitutional changes that would allow limited self-rule to the rebel-held eastern areas of Donetsk and Luhansk. | |
The changes are part of a peace deal aimed at ending fighting between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russia rebels. | |
But many MPs oppose autonomy for the east and the decision must be voted through parliament. | |
Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has released $1.7bn (£1.08bn) in aid to Ukraine. | |
The payment is part of a bailout aimed at stabilising Ukraine's struggling economy. The country is also trying to reach a deal with its main creditors on restructuring its debts. | |
'Important step' | |
On the ground, sporadic clashes continue in the east. The West says there is clear evidence of Russian regular troops helping the rebels and arming them with heavy weapons - something Moscow denies. | |
The constitutional changes are part of a general plan to devolve powers from the Ukrainian central government to the regions, the BBC's David Stern reports from the capital Kiev. | The constitutional changes are part of a general plan to devolve powers from the Ukrainian central government to the regions, the BBC's David Stern reports from the capital Kiev. |
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko called Friday's constitutional court ruling "an important step that moves us closer to momentous changes for the state". | Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko called Friday's constitutional court ruling "an important step that moves us closer to momentous changes for the state". |
In a Facebook post he said that "for the first time in Ukraine's history, its head of state and government are ceding a large degree of their powers to the regions". | In a Facebook post he said that "for the first time in Ukraine's history, its head of state and government are ceding a large degree of their powers to the regions". |
"This will make our country powerful and whole," he added. | "This will make our country powerful and whole," he added. |
Ukraine still insists, however, that elections in Donetsk and Luhansk must comply with the electoral rules set in Kiev - rather than terms set by the separatists. |
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