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| Ukraine PM Yatsenyuk rejects referendum on Crimea split - CNN Posted: 06 Mar 2014 09:12 AM PST  Ukrainian troops guard the Belbek air base outside Sevastopol, Ukraine, on Thursday, March 6. Ukrainian officials and Western diplomats accuse Russia of sending thousands of troops into the Crimea region in the past week -- a claim Russia has denied. The crisis in the former Soviet republic has revived concerns of a return to Cold War relationships. Follow the evolving story on CNN's live blog. HIDE CAPTION Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine Crisis in Ukraine STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Kiev, Ukraine (CNN) -- We're leaving. No, you're not. That's where we are in the crisis in Ukraine after lawmakers in the Crimean region voted Thursday in favor of leaving the country for Russia and putting it to a vote before residents in 10 days. It's an act that drew condemnation from Ukraine's interim Prime Minister, who called the effort to hold such a referendum "an illegitimate decision." "Crimea was, is and will be an integral part of Ukraine," Arseniy Yatsenyuk said. It's not clear how easily the region could split off if the referendum endorses the move. The developments came as Yatsenyuk joined in emergency talks in Brussels, Belgium, called by leaders of the European Union who support the Kiev government and want to de-escalate the crisis. At the same time, the EU and the United States have announced plans to freeze the assets of Viktor Yanukovych, who was ousted as Ukraine's President after months of protests that culminated in bloody street clashes in February that left dozens dead. At the EU meeting, Yatsenyuk said the referendum "has no legal grounds at all." "That's why we argue that the Russian government should not support those who claim separatism in Ukraine." He also insisted that his country would pursue a peaceful, diplomatic resolution to the crisis but would not be subordinate to Russia. He urged Russia to pull back its forces from Crimea and engage diplomatically. "If they are ready to talk, we are -- and we made it very clear," he said. In a move toward closer ties with Europe, Yatsenyuk said Ukraine is ready to sign an association agreement with the European Union. It was the decision by Yanukovych to drop this planned agreement that first sparked the popular protests that led to his downfall. Nuclear issue Justice Minister Pavlo Petrenko told journalists in Kiev that the Crimean parliament's decision is illegal because under the constitution, only national referendums are permitted, a Justice Ministry spokeswoman said. The parliament in Crimea installed a new, pro-Moscow government late last month -- as armed, pro-Russian men besieged the parliament building -- and does not recognize the authorities in Kiev. Citizens will be asked on March 16 if they want an autonomous republic of Crimea within Russia; or within Ukraine. The autonomous region has a 60% ethnic Russian population, having been part of Russia until it was ceded to Ukraine in 1954 by the Soviet Union. But not everyone may be as keen on coming under Moscow's direct influence. A quarter of the peninsula's population is Ukrainian and about 12% Crimean Tatars, a predominantly Muslim group. Michael Crawford, a former British ambassador in Eastern Europe, cautioned that whatever the result of the vote, it may be meaningless. "It does not follow that if Crimea votes to join Russia, that anyone will accept it," he said. "For Russia to start cherry-picking bits of the former Soviet Union, cranking up referenda in Kazakhstan or Latvia or wherever you like, to try to carve off bits, would be against international law, and it would be something Vladimir Putin has said he doesn't want to do." Yatsenyuk said that if Ukraine is broken up, the world will have trouble ever getting another country to give up its nuclear weapons program. Why? In 1994, Ukraine agreed to give up its Soviet-era nuclear arsenal in return for guarantees -- signed by the United States, the United Kingdom and Russia -- of its territorial integrity and independence. What happens now to Ukraine "will have an impact on nuclear nonproliferation programs," Yatsenyuk said. U.S. paves way for sanctions on Russians, Ukrainians over Crimea U.S. visa ban imposed Amid the rapidly shifting diplomatic sands, European Union leaders are discussing possible economic and diplomatic sanctions against Russia, which could include asset freezes or visa moves. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry spoke at some length with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Rome on Thursday, on the sidelines of a meeting on Libya. The U.S. State Department imposed a visa ban on Russian and Ukrainian officials and individuals that is says are responsible for, or complicit in, threatening the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. President Barack Obama also signed an executive order laying the groundwork to impose sanctions against individuals and entities responsible for the crisis. The United States also is adding six F-15 fighter planes to the four currently on a NATO mission in the Baltics, the Pentagon announced Wednesday, and the guided-missile destroyer USS Truxtun is about to take part in a previously scheduled exercise in the Black Sea. The impact of EU sanctions, if they were imposed, might be felt by other countries, too. Russian lawmakers are drafting a law that would allow the nation to confiscate assets belonging to U.S. and European companies if sanctions are slapped on Moscow, Russian state media reported Wednesday. The Russian threat was not specific, but numerous large European and U.S. companies have interests in the region. Russia is also a major supplier of natural gas to Europe. Martin Schulz, president of the EU Parliament, earlier promised in remarks alongside Yatsenyuk that Europe stood behind the new government in Kiev and a peaceful, democratic future for Ukraine. "We are behind you and your government, and we support you with all our means," he said. This includes ensuring that an 11 billion-euro aid package offered Wednesday by the European Union gets to Ukraine as soon as possible to shore up the cash-strapped economy, Schulz said. Five possible ways to end the crisis Ukrainian troops told to leave Crimea Putin, the Russian President, has insisted Russia has the right to use military force in Ukraine if necessary to protect ethnic Russians. But he has denied claims by Ukrainian officials and Western diplomats that Russia has sent thousands of troops into the region in recent days. Russia says the heavily armed troops, in uniforms without insignia, are local "self-defense" forces. The deputy speaker of the Crimean parliament, Rustam Temirgaliev, said Thursday at a news conference that the only forces allowed in Crimea are the Russian military -- and that all others will be considered to be occupying forces. He said he'd advised Ukrainian troops to swear allegiance to the Russian army or leave Crimea under safe passage. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe said its team of observers, invited into the country by the government in Kiev, had been turned back as they sought to enter Crimea. Lavrov has criticized moves by the OSCE and NATO, which has suspended some joint undertakings with Russia, saying their actions "are not helping to create an atmosphere of dialogue and constructive cooperation." In the regional capital, Simferopol, residents have demonstrated this week against the interim government in Kiev, with crowds chanting in favor of Putin. Warship scuttled Tensions remain high around military bases in Crimea, and there are concerns that violence may erupt as tempers fray. Ukraine's Ministry of Defense said unidentified Russian forces had scuttled an old warship to block seven Ukrainian vessels in a Crimean harbor under cover of darkness Wednesday. Meanwhile, riot police are in a standoff against pro-Russian demonstrators outside government buildings in Odessa, a port city in southern Ukraine. And in the eastern city of Donetsk, protesters took over a local government building Wednesday as they called for a referendum on the region's status and greater autonomy, witnesses told CNN. READ: Live updates of the crisis in Ukraine READ: U.N. envoy to CNN: Situation in Crimea 'dangerous' READ: Anchor quits: I can't be part of network 'that whitewashes' Putin's actionse CNN's Michael Holmes reported from Kiev and Laura Smith-Spark wrote and reported in London. CNN's Anna Coren in Simferopol, Matthew Chance in Odessa and Tim Schwarz in Kiev contributed to this report. CNN's Elise Labott, Michelle Kosinski, Susan Garraty, Susannah Palk and Yon Pomrenze also contributed. |
| Oscar Pistorius found praying over Reeva Steenkamp body - BBC News Posted: 06 Mar 2014 09:11 AM PST
6 March 2014
Last updated at 13:54
The BBC's Andrew Harding reports on the latest developments in the Oscar Pistorius trial A neighbour of Oscar Pistorius has told his murder trial he found the South African Paralympic star praying over the body of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp as she lay dying. In the trial's first account of the moments after the shooting, Johan Stipp said he tried to revive Ms Steenkamp. During Dr Stipp's testimony, Mr Pistorius cried and seemed to retch. The double amputee denies intentionally killing her, saying he mistook the 29-year-old model for an intruder. If found guilty, the 27-year-old could face life imprisonment. Dr Stipp said he could see Ms Steenkamp's brain tissue in her hair. At this point, a police officer passed a plastic bag to Mr Pistorius. Recalling the night of 14 February 2013, Dr Stipp said he had heard gunshots. He said he had found Mr Pistorius kneeling by her body. "I shot her," the Paralympic star told him. "I thought she was a burglar." "Oscar was crying all the time,'' Dr Stipp said. "He was praying to God [saying] `Please let her live.'" Pistorius said he would dedicate "his life and her life to God" if she lived, according to the testimony. Dr Stipp said Mr Pistorius had been in an emotional state. Fearing he might hurt himself, he had asked where the gun was. The trial has been adjourned until Friday. Earlier, defence lawyer Barry Roux said that two neighbours, Michell Burger and Charl Johnson, had discussed their testimony with each other and amended the rough notes they had made a few days after the shooting. "Your interpretation [of events] is designed to incriminate the accused and it's unfortunate," Mr Roux said. Mr Johnson denied this. He insisted that he had heard a woman screaming "help", followed by a man doing the same. On Wednesday, a witness said the athlete had been responsible for a weapon being fired at a restaurant last year. Boxer Kevin Lerena told the court Mr Pistorius had asked the owner of the gun to take the blame after the incident in January 2013. Mr Pistorius also faces charges of illegally possessing ammunition, which he denies. Ms Steenkamp, a model and reality TV star, was shot dead in the early hours of Valentine's Day last year at Mr Pistorius' home in Pretoria.  Oscar Pistorius cried in court as he heard testimony from a neighbour
The arrest of a national sporting hero, who won gold at the London 2012 Paralympic Games and also competed at the Olympics, astounded South Africa. There are no juries at trials in South Africa, and his fate will ultimately be decided by Judge Thokozile Masipa. Much of the case will depend on ballistic evidence from the scene of the shooting, correspondents say. The state is seeking to convince the court that Oscar Pistorius and Reeva Steenkamp had an argument before the athlete fired the shots that killed his girlfriend.  South Africa was stunned when the athlete shot dead his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp
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