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                       Ukraine Base Under Seige in Crimea

   Armed men smashed a Russian military truck through the gates of a
   Ukrainian missile defense post in the Crimean peninsula.
   The men negotiated with the base`s commanders as soldiers sheltered in
   their barracks Friday. No shots have been reported.
   Earlier Friday, Ukraine`s Interim President Oleksandr Turchynov signed
   a decree canceling a planned referendum on Crimea joining Russia.
   A day earlier,Crimea`s Moscow-backed legislature voted for the
   peninsula to become part of Russia and scheduled a referendum on the
   issue for March 16.
   Ukraine`s interim prime minister says that "no one in the civilized
   world" will recognize the referendum`s results.
   Arseniy Yatsenyuk says he wants to "warn separatists" and others he
   describes as "traitors of the Ukrainian state" that their decisions are
   "unlawful" and "unconstitutional." U.S. and European leaders also
   called the referendum illegal.
   Crimean officials fired back Friday, saying the vote will go forward.
   The speaker of Russia`s upper house of parliament said Friday Russian
   lawmakers will support Crimea`s decision if the Ukrainian region
   decides to join Russia. Tens of thousands of people turned out for a
   rally in the Russian capital to show solidarity with Crimea`s
   pro-Russian authorities.
   Ukraine and Russia have been locked in a tense standoff since Russian
   forces entered the Crimean peninsula a week ago.
   Also Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin`s spokesman said he hoped
   that Russia and the West do not return to a period of tensions like the
   Cold War.
   Russian news agencies quoted Dmitry Peskov as saying that despite
   "profound disagreements" between the two sides, "the hope remains that
   as a result of dialogue it will be possible to find some common
   ground."
   Still, Peskov dismissed the idea that Western countries could mediate
   talks between Russia and Ukraine.
   U.S. President Barack Obama spoke by phone Thursday with Russian
   President Vladimir Putin about the Ukraine crisis, but the two leaders
   found little common ground.
   The White House says Mr. Obama told Mr. Putin the presence of Russian
   forces in Crimea is a violation of Ukraine`s sovereignty. The Kremlin
   says Mr. Putin denounced Ukraine`s new government as "illegitimate" and
   said Russia cannot ignore calls for help from Ukraine`s Russia-leaning
   east and south.
   Also Thursday, Mr. Obama authorized sanctions, including visa
   restrictions, against those found to have violated Ukraine`s
   territorial integrity. The EU also took measures against Russia,
   suspending talks on visas and a new economic agreement.
   Russia`s Foreign Ministry on Friday called the EU`s position "extremely
   unconstructive," adding that Russia "will not accept the language of
   sanctions and threats" and promising retaliation if the EU imposes
   sanctions.
   Ukrainian Prime Minister Yatsenyuk said Friday his government is
   "prepared to rebuild relations with Russia." But he said Russia must
   withdraw its troops, fulfill its agreements with Ukraine and stop
   supporting separatists in Crimea.
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References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/ukraine-base-under-seige-in-crimea/1866839.html