Crimea referendum: Voters 'back Russia union'

Out of media player. Press enter to return or tab to continue.

Some 95.5% of voters in Crimea have supported joining Russia, officials say, after the votes have been counted in a disputed referendum. Crimea's leader says he will apply to join Russia on Monday. Russia's Vladimir Putin has said he will respect the Crimean people's wishes.



The referendum took place after 10 days' notice, without a proper campaign or public debate, with the political leaders of the country being unable to visit Crimea, and in the presence of many thousands of troops from a foreign country.  The EU says it is a mockery of proper democratic practice.The majority of the international community  do not recognize the referendum or its outcome. With reports of more disturbances in the city of Donetsk in the largely pro-Russian eastern Ukraine, the Kremlin  has been warned against any further military incursion into Ukrainian territory.

"Any attempt by the Russian Federation to use the referendum as an excuse to annex the Crimea, or to take further action on Ukrainian territory, would be unacceptable," said Mr Hague, Britain's foreign minister .

"I call on Russia to enter into dialogue with Ukraine and with the international community to resolve this crisis through diplomacy and in accordance with international law, not to exacerbate it further through unilateral and provocative actions."

Mr Hague was speaking from Brussels where, on Monday, he is expected to discuss a range of possible sanctions with other EU ministers. These could include asset freezes, and travel bans aimed at senior Russian officials.

Russia's military intervention in the Crimean peninsula - part of Russia until 1954 and host to its Black Sea fleet - followed the fall of Ukraine's pro-Moscow President Viktor Yanukovych on  February 22nd.

In a joint statement, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and European Council President Herman Van Rompuy said it was "illegal and illegitimate and its outcome will not be recognized".

There were 1.5 million eligible voters in the Crimean referendum, and election officials put the turnout in Sunday's vote at more than 80%.