Ukraine raids pro-Russian separatists

Arrest of about 70 “separatists” in Kharkiv comes as Russia warns Ukraine unrest could lead to civil war. Ukraine has launched an “anti-terrorist” operation in the southeastern city of Kharkiv and has arrested about 70 “separatists” for seizing the regional administration building, Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov has said.

Avakov posted on his Facebook page on Tuesday: “An anti-terrorist operation has been launched. The city centre is blocked along with metro stations. Do not worry. Once we finish, we will open them again.”

Ukraine’s Interior Ministry was quoted as saying by Interfax-Ukraine news agency that those detained were suspected of “illegal activity related to separatism, the organisation of mass disorder, damage to human health” and breaking other laws.

In response, Russia’s foreign ministry issued a statement calling on Kiev to stop the operation, warning that it “could lead to an outbreak of civil war”. Meanwhile in Paris, NATO chief, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, warned Russia against intervening further in Ukraine, urging Moscow to “step back”. “Russia’s illegal aggression against Ukraine is the greatest challenge to Europe’s security in a generation,” Anders Fogh Rasmussen told reporters. Aljazeera

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