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     Ukraine President Offers Amnesty for Pro-Russians Occupying Buildings

   by VOA News

   Ukraine's acting president Oleksandr Turchynov is promising amnesty for
   pro-Russian demonstrators if they give up their weapons and abandon
   government buildings under siege in two eastern cities.
   Turchynov said Thursday he is willing to make his promise official in a
   presidential proclamation.
   There has been no reply so far from the demonstrators.
   Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said Wednesday Ukraine will end the
   occupation of the buildings Friday by negotiations or by force.
   The pro-Russian militants have taken over official buildings in the
   cities of
   Luhansk and Donetsk. They are demanding referendums on whether to split
   with Ukraine and join Russia -- the same vote that was held in Crimea
   last month.
   U.S. diplomat Victoria Nuland told a U.S. Congressional committee that
   the building takeovers were "very carefully orchestrated, well-planned,
   well-targeted" moves. She said there is "overwhelming evidence" of
   Russian involvement, and warned of consequences if the "aggressive
   actions" go unchecked.
   Nuland told the lawmakers that U.S. diplomats do not hold out high
   expectations for talks next week involving top diplomats from Ukraine,
   Russia, the United States, and European Union.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/ukraine-president-offers-amnesty-for-
   prorussians-occupying-buildings/1890231.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/ukraine-president-offers-amnesty-for-prorussians-occupying-buildings/1890231.html