Ukraine: Russia behind airport takeovers

Ukraine's interim government has accused Russia of staging an armed invasion in southeastern Crimea after pro-Kremlin armed men seized two airports and government buildings in the region known to back ousted president Viktor Yanukovich.

Two Crimean airports - the main international airport of Simferapol and a military airfield in Sevastopol - have been taken over by what the Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov claimed to be members of the Russian Federation Fleet, according to a statement he posted on his Facebook account.

"I see what is happening as armed invasion and occupation , in violation of all international treaties and norms. This is a direct provocation of the armed bloodshed on the territory of a sovereign state," Avakov said.

The Russian Black Sea Fleet issued a statement denying the accusation and insisted its forces had not seized or taken any other action at a military airport near Sevastopol, the port on Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula where the fleet is based, Interfax news agency reported.

Al Jazeera's Laurence Lee said that the civilian airport was operating normally.

"Inside the terminal building, passengers are queuing up to go to Moscow and Istanbul and all sorts of places,and that is completely normal, but in the outside, it is entirely abnormal," he said. "Throughout the morning we have seen these large groups of green camouflaged helmeted men, some are masked and others are not, in control and are coming out of the VIP block here and changing shifts." 

He said the presence of the armed men seemed to be a show of strength, though they did not have their magazines loaded.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian parliament, which voted days ago to oust President Yanukovich, has called for a UN Security Council meeting to discuss developments in Crimea, and urged Russia "to stop moves that show signs of undermining national sovereignty and territorial integrity" as well as "reject support for separatism in Ukraine, of any form". 

Yanukovich's news conference

The pro-Moscow Yanukovich is expected to hold his first public appearance since his disappearance last week.

Yanukovich has apparently been emboldened by the takeover of government buildings by the armed groups.

Yanukovich - who fled Kiev last week following weeks of deadly protests - is due to give a press conference in Russia's southwestern city of Rostov-on-Don on Friday at 1300 GMT.

However, Al Jazeera's Rory Challands said it was still not clear who would be allowed to attend the news conference and where it would exactly be held. 

Rising tension in Crimea, the government of which still regards Yanukovich as its president, is the biggest challenge facing Ukraine's newly sworn in government.

Al Jazeera's Tim Friend said the risks the current ongoing developments have on Kiev were "substantial." 

"The new government is grappling with an enormous economic crisis, and now they are confronted with nothing less than trying to ensure that Ukraine remains united, and in Crimea they see that this is threatened," he said.

Autonomous region

Oleksander Turchynov, the acting Ukraine president who has replaced Yanukovich, told parliament he had ordered troops and police to take "all measures" needed to protect Ukrainian citizens after the apparent pro-Russian takeover of buildings.

Turchynov's statement also gave warning that any movement by Russian military forces in the Crimean Black Sea port of Sevastopol, would be considered a "military aggression".

The area has been closed off "to prevent bloodshed", according to news agency AFP.

Meanwhile, Crimea's autonomous parliament has set a referendum on the region's status on May 25, according to AFP, which is the same day during which the new government in Kiev is set to hold fresh presidential elections. 

Vladimir Konstantinov, speaker of Crimea's parliament, said on Thursday the autonomous republic appointed a new prime minister, Sergei Aksenov, with Yanukovich's approval.

"There are political factions, pro-Russian groups, who want Crimea to break away, and have less to do with the Kiev," Al Jazeera's Forestier-Walker said. "But there are also those who want to stay firmly part of Ukraine, in particular the ethnic Tartar community, who want to see themselves part of Europe."

Ukraine's interim government has issued an arrest warrant for Yanukovich, accusing him of being responsible for the deaths of at least 70 protesters on February 21 protests in Kiev