Russia Urges Kiev To Avoid Force In East
Russia has urged the authorities in Kiev not to use force against Pro Russian protesters in Eastern Ukraine
At a special U.N. securiity council session , russia's ambassador called on Kiev to "start a genuine dialogue" but Ukraines U.N. ambassador Yuriy Sergeyev said Moscow had artificially created the crisis in Eastern Ukraine
A deadline set by Ukraine for Pro Russian activists to leave the government buildings they are occupying expired at 06:00 GMT Monday (about 11:00 p.m. PST) Sunday night
Kiev had promised military action if they failed to leave and people in Eastern Ukraine are now waiting to see if interim President Olexander Turchynov uses the army to try to take back control of the buildings
On Sunday he said his military forces would launch a "full scale anti terrorist operation" against the armed men holding the buildings
The asssistant U.N. Secretary General had warned that Ukrain "teeters on the brink"
The new administration in Kiev is struggling for credibility in the East of the country and several towns and cities were effectivly taken over by Pro Russian groups over the weekend
Sloviansk , in the Donetsk region is completely surrounded by rebel barricades and checkpoints manned by Pro Russian militia are stationed on major roads leading into the city
Although Kiev has promised to take back control of Sloviansk in a all out asssult carries huge risks and could trigger a reaction from Russia which has tens of thousands of troops camped near it's border with Ukraine
Russian ambassador to the U.N. , Vitaliz Churkin , told an emergency meeting of the U.N. security council that there were Nazi's and anti semites within the ranks of "the self proclaimed government in Kiev"
He said the opinions and interests of protesters in Eastern Ukraine had not been taken into consideration "the henchmen of Maiden ( protest movement) must stop attacking their own people" said Mr. Churkin
E.U. Foreign ministers are due to meet later on Monday in Luxenburg to discuss the crisis