Russian-speaking armed men seize control of regional govt buildings

Armed men seized the regional government headquarters and Parliament in Ukraine's Crimea on Thursday and raised the Russian flag, alarming Kiev's interim leadership, who urged Moscow not to abuse its navy base rights on the peninsula by moving troops around.

"I am appealing to the military leadership of the Russian Black Sea fleet," said Olexander Turchinov, acting president since the removal of Viktor Yanukovych last week. "Any military movements, the more so if they are with weapons, beyond the boundaries of this territory (the base) will be seen by us as military aggression."

Ukraine's Foreign Ministry also summoned Russia's acting envoy in Kiev for immediate consultations.

There were mixed signals from Moscow, which put fighter jets along its western borders on combat alert, but earlier said it would take part in discussions on an International Monetary Fund financial package for Ukraine. Ukraine has said it needs $35 billion over the next two years to stave off bankruptcy.

The fear of military escalation prompted expressions of concern from the West, with NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen urging Russia not to do anything that would "escalate tension or create misunderstanding".

"I'm concerned about developments in Crimea," Rasmussen said in a tweeted message.

NATO defense ministers on Wednesday agreed in a statement, which said a sovereign, independent and stable Ukraine was essential to security in Europe.

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski called the seizure of government buildings in the Crimea a "very dangerous game".

"This is a drastic step, and I'm warning those who did this and those who allowed them to do this, because this is how regional conflicts begin," he told a news conference.

It was not immediately known who was occupying the buildings in the regional capital Simferopol and they issued no demands, but witnesses said they spoke Russian and appeared to be ethnic Russian separatists.

Interfax News Agency quoted a witness as saying there were about 60 people inside and they had many weapons. It said no one had been hurt when the buildings were seized in the early hours by Russian speakers in uniforms that did not carry identification markings.

New Cabinet approved

The Ukrainian Parliament approved a Cabinet on Thursday led by new Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk.

The new interim government, which has gathered well-known politicians and prominent figures of the recent anti-government protests, was supported by 331 lawmakers of the 411 present in Parliament with at least 226 votes needed.

Earlier in the day, 358 legislators supported the bill to dismiss the former government.

Parliament named the lawmaker from the "Fatherland Party", Vitaly Yarema, to be the first deputy prime minister.

Meanwhile, far-right politician Alexandr Such and businessman Vladimir Groysman were appointed as deputy prime ministers.

Earlier in the day, Yatsenyuk said that the main task for his government is to lift Ukraine's economy, preserve the territorial integrity of the state and follow the course toward European integration.

Describing the members of the new Cabinet as "political kamikaze", Yatsenyuk said that his government has to make unpopular decisions, which would displease many Ukrainians in the short term.

Reuters-AFP-Xinhua

An anti-Yanukovych protester buckles her helmet as she stands guard outside the Parliament building along with other protesters in Kiev on Thursday. Yannis Behrakis / Reuters