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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Ukraine crisis: Troops 'recaptures Mariupol city hall' | Ukraine crisis: Troops 'recaptures Mariupol city hall' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Ukrainian government forces have retaken the city hall in the south-eastern port of Mariupol from pro-Russia separatists, officials say. | Ukrainian government forces have retaken the city hall in the south-eastern port of Mariupol from pro-Russia separatists, officials say. |
| The Kiev interior ministry says rebels who had seized the building last week have left, but some local reports later said they were attempting to return. | The Kiev interior ministry says rebels who had seized the building last week have left, but some local reports later said they were attempting to return. |
| Pro-Russia separatists have captured official buildings in dozens of towns in eastern Ukraine in recent weeks. | Pro-Russia separatists have captured official buildings in dozens of towns in eastern Ukraine in recent weeks. |
| The Kiev government has sent troops to restore its authority. | The Kiev government has sent troops to restore its authority. |
| Early on Wednesday Russia's Interfax news agency quoted a pro-Moscow militiaman in Mariupol as saying that separatist forces had vacated the city hall without a shot being fired. | Early on Wednesday Russia's Interfax news agency quoted a pro-Moscow militiaman in Mariupol as saying that separatist forces had vacated the city hall without a shot being fired. |
| He added that government forces had started to clear the barricade on the central square. | He added that government forces had started to clear the barricade on the central square. |
| The BBC's Richard Galpin in eastern Ukraine says this is potentially a significant step as Mariupol is an important city in an industrial heartland. | |
| However Ukraine's Channel 5 TV later reported that some rebels had regrouped and tried to seize the building again. The situation is deteriorating, it said. | However Ukraine's Channel 5 TV later reported that some rebels had regrouped and tried to seize the building again. The situation is deteriorating, it said. |
| 'Dividing Ukraine' | 'Dividing Ukraine' |
| There were reports of clashes on Wednesday in the separatist stronghold of Sloviansk, as Ukrainian troops advanced on rebel positions. | |
| The government has rejected the pro-Russian activists' demands for greater autonomy for eastern regions, fearing they could lead to the break-up of the country or more regions being annexed. | |
| Kiev has called a presidential election on 25 May, and said it was ready to back new international talks in Geneva, as long as Moscow supported the poll. | Kiev has called a presidential election on 25 May, and said it was ready to back new international talks in Geneva, as long as Moscow supported the poll. |
| Meanwhile UK Foreign Secretary William Hague is meeting Ukrainian leaders in Kiev. Ahead of his visit he accused Russia of "deliberately fomenting" disorder. | |
| "There is a great determination among Ukrainians to make a success of their elections... to show that this is a democracy that can work and succeed," he told the BBC on Wednesday. | |
| On Tuesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov ruled out holding another round of international talks unless pro-Russian opposition groups were involved. | On Tuesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov ruled out holding another round of international talks unless pro-Russian opposition groups were involved. |
| The separatists in Donetsk have proclaimed a "People's Republic" and are preparing to hold an independence referendum on Sunday. | The separatists in Donetsk have proclaimed a "People's Republic" and are preparing to hold an independence referendum on Sunday. |
| US Secretary of State John Kerry has condemned the plan as an "illegal effort to further divide Ukraine". | US Secretary of State John Kerry has condemned the plan as an "illegal effort to further divide Ukraine". |
| The 25 May election was called after pro-Kremlin President Viktor Yanukovych was overthrown by pro-Western protesters in February. | The 25 May election was called after pro-Kremlin President Viktor Yanukovych was overthrown by pro-Western protesters in February. |