Crimea: Government buildings seized by gunmen in Simferopol

Two Ukraine’s government buildings have been seized by armed men in Simferopol, the capital of the Russian-majority region of Crimea.

The Russian flag had been raised over both the parliament and the regional government buildings in Simferopol.

On Wednesday pro-Russian separatists and supporters of Ukraine’s new leaders confronted each other in the city.

Ukrainian interim President Oleksandr Turchynov warned Russia against any “military aggression” in Crimea.

Oleksandr Turchynov said Russia’s troops from Black Sea Fleet should not move outside their naval base in the Crimea.

“I would like to call on the leadership of the Russian Federation to respect the basic agreements on the Russian military presence in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea,” he said.

Meanwhile Russia is performing a second day of military exercises, saying it fighter jets were on “combat alert”.

“Constant air patrols are being carried out by fighter jets in the border regions,” Russia’s defense ministry told Interfax.

On Wednesday, President Vladimir Putin ordered a snap drill to test the combat readiness of troops in central and western Russia, near the border with Ukraine. Thursday’s exercises appear to be part of that drill, analysts say.

Also on Thursday, the Russian foreign ministry expressed concern over what it termed “massive violations of human rights in Ukraine”.

Amid heightened tensions between Russia and the West, NATO has issued a statement saying it would continue to support Ukraine’s territorial integrity.

The US has warned against any military intervention by Russia.

On Wednesday Simferopol saw clashes erupt between Ukrainians who support the change of government and pro-Russians.

Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said the area near the government buildings has been cordoned off to prevent “bloodshed”. He added that the seizure of the buildings was the work of “provocateurs”.

“Measures have been taken to counter extremist actions and not allow the situation to escalate into an armed confrontation in the centre of the city,” he said in a statement on his Facebook page.

Regional Prime Minister Anatoliy Mohylyov told a local TV station said he would take part in talks with the gunmen and told government employees who normally work there not to come in.

The men have not yet made any demands or issued any statements but did put up a sign reading: “Crimea is Russia”.

They threw a flash grenade in response to questions from a journalist, AP news agency reported.

Tensions have been rising in Crimea since President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted last week.

Crimea – where ethnic Russians are in a majority – was transferred from Russia to Ukraine in 1954.

Ethnic Ukrainians loyal to Kiev and Muslim Tatars – whose animus towards Russia stretches back to Stalin’s deportations during World War II – have formed an alliance to oppose any move back towards Moscow.

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