Ukraine orders corridors for civilians in war-ravaged east

KIEV: Ukraine’s new Westernbacked president yesterday ordered the creation of humanitarian corridors in the separatist east that could save civilians and advance his plan to end nearly two months of fighting by the end of the week.

Tycoon Petro Poroshenko’s initiative meets a major demand put forward by Moscow and helps address growing concern among rights groups about Kiev’s use of tanks and air power in heavily populated areas to suppress the pro-Russian insurgency.

But the 48-year- old chocolatier and political veteran stopped well short of accepting the Kremlin’s request to allow Russian aid into the eastern rustbelt – a move Kiev fears could be used to help arm the rebels.

“In order to avoid new victims in the zone of the anti-terrorist operation, the president has ordered the responsible ministers to bring about all necessary conditions for civilians who want to leave,” Poroshenko’s office said

In order to avoid new victims in the zone of the anti-terrorist operation, the president has ordered the responsible ministers to bring about all necessary conditions for civilians who want to leave. Petro Poroshenko, Ukrainian president

in a statement.

The new leader also told his government to provide transportation as well as food and medical supplies for local officials to be able to handle the expected inflow of displaced persons into other parts of Ukraine.

On Sunday Poroshenko unveiled plans to end by the close of his first week in office a rebellion that has killed more than 200 people and shaken the very foundation of the splintered ex-Soviet state. — AFP