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| Ukraine crisis: Pro-Russians seize Donetsk prosecutor's office | Ukraine crisis: Pro-Russians seize Donetsk prosecutor's office |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Hundreds of pro-Russian militants have seized the regional prosecutor's office in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, and there are reports of injuries. | Hundreds of pro-Russian militants have seized the regional prosecutor's office in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, and there are reports of injuries. |
| The attackers hurled rocks at police. Tear gas and stun grenades were also fired but it is not clear by whom. | The attackers hurled rocks at police. Tear gas and stun grenades were also fired but it is not clear by whom. |
| Live TV footage later showed militants disarming the police and escorting them out of the building. | Live TV footage later showed militants disarming the police and escorting them out of the building. |
| Ukraine blames Russia for organising the seizures of a number of offices in the east. Moscow denies the claim. | Ukraine blames Russia for organising the seizures of a number of offices in the east. Moscow denies the claim. |
| Also in the Donetsk region, activists from the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic seized the town council of Amvrosiyivka, local media reports said. | Also in the Donetsk region, activists from the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic seized the town council of Amvrosiyivka, local media reports said. |
| In a separate development, German Chancellor Angela Merkel asked Russia in a phone call to President Vladimir Putin to help free foreign monitors held in eastern Ukraine. | |
| The military observers were seized by pro-Russia separatists at a checkpoint in the flashpoint town of Sloviansk last Friday. | The military observers were seized by pro-Russia separatists at a checkpoint in the flashpoint town of Sloviansk last Friday. |
| On Wednesday, a Russian military attache was detained in Ukraine on suspicion of spying and ordered to leave the country. | On Wednesday, a Russian military attache was detained in Ukraine on suspicion of spying and ordered to leave the country. |
| Kiev 'helpless' | Kiev 'helpless' |
| In Donetsk, the pro-Russian militants attacked the prosecutor's office, accusing those inside of siding with the government in Kiev. | In Donetsk, the pro-Russian militants attacked the prosecutor's office, accusing those inside of siding with the government in Kiev. |
| The crowd later forced its way into the building, stripping weapons and shields from the police officers. | The crowd later forced its way into the building, stripping weapons and shields from the police officers. |
| Many attackers chanted "Fascists! Fascists!" and later raised the flag of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic on the building. | Many attackers chanted "Fascists! Fascists!" and later raised the flag of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic on the building. |
| Several people - both protesters and riot police - were reportedly injured during the clash. | Several people - both protesters and riot police - were reportedly injured during the clash. |
| One policeman running away from the prosecutor's office told the BBC's Steve Rosenberg: "How on earth can we deal with this kind of thing?" | One policeman running away from the prosecutor's office told the BBC's Steve Rosenberg: "How on earth can we deal with this kind of thing?" |
| Donetsk, an industrial hub of more than one million people, has seen a number of government offices seized in recent weeks. | Donetsk, an industrial hub of more than one million people, has seen a number of government offices seized in recent weeks. |
| On Wednesday, Ukraine's acting President Olexander Turchynov admitted that his forces were "helpless" to quell the unrest in some parts of the east, saying the goal was now to prevent it from spreading. | On Wednesday, Ukraine's acting President Olexander Turchynov admitted that his forces were "helpless" to quell the unrest in some parts of the east, saying the goal was now to prevent it from spreading. |
| Mr Turchynov also said Ukraine was on "full combat alert", amid fears that Russian troops could invade. | Mr Turchynov also said Ukraine was on "full combat alert", amid fears that Russian troops could invade. |
| Some 40,000 Russian troops are stationed close to the Ukrainian border. Moscow has warned that its soldiers will act if Russian interests in eastern Ukraine - where a majority of the population are Russian-speaking - are threatened. | Some 40,000 Russian troops are stationed close to the Ukrainian border. Moscow has warned that its soldiers will act if Russian interests in eastern Ukraine - where a majority of the population are Russian-speaking - are threatened. |
| Earlier on Thursday, Mr Putin reiterated his call for Kiev to withdraw troops from the south-east to open the way for a national dialogue. | |
| The comments were made in the phone call with Mrs Merkel, the Kremlin said. | |
| The US and EU have accused Russia of failing to implement the terms of last month's deal agreed in Geneva aimed at defusing the crisis by disarming illegal militias. | The US and EU have accused Russia of failing to implement the terms of last month's deal agreed in Geneva aimed at defusing the crisis by disarming illegal militias. |
| They have both stepped up sanctions against Russia this week, naming more individuals and companies facing travel bans and asset freezes. | They have both stepped up sanctions against Russia this week, naming more individuals and companies facing travel bans and asset freezes. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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