Oleksander Turchinov, the acting president, was to meet law enforcement agencies yesterday to discuss what he described as "dangerous signs of separatism" in some regions of the vast country following the overthrowing of the presidency of Viktor Yanukovych.

Some members of parliament warned that Ukraine could be split because Yanukovych had support in Russian-speaking regions in the east and south.

Sergei Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, said Ukraine must not be forced to choose between close ties with Russia or the West.

"It is dangerous and counterproductive to try to force upon Ukraine a choice on the principle: 'You are either with us or against us','' he said.

Ukraine's parliament voted yesterday to ask the International Criminal Court to indict Yanukovych for "serious crimes" committed during anti-government protests in which more than 100 civilians were killed.

The International Criminal Court, in The Hague, which since its founding in 2002 has so far handled only cases involving Africa, said it could intervene if asked to do so by Ukraine.

"A government can make a declaration accepting the court's jurisdiction for past events," said court spokesman Fadi el-Abdallah.

With national elections brought forward to May 25, one of Ukraine's most prominent opposition figures, retired world boxing champion Vitaly Klitschko, confirmed that he would contest the presidency.

Via: timeslive.co.za

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