they didn't know, they told us, but they doubt they'd move on slavyansk. "there are too many civilians," they said, "and it's dangerous." here in the regional capital, donetsk, only 60 miles south of slavyansk, nothing happened. the separatists are still occupying the government building behind me. they've told us they're willing to fight to stay there but, scott, so far, they haven't needed to. >> pelley: holly williams covering for us in eastern ukraine. holly, thanks. speaking to this in japan today, president obama threatened to punish russia with new sanctions. the president said those sanctions are, as he put it, already teed up, but he conceded they may not do much to change putin's actions unless european allies do likewise. today, the federal government took a big step toward regulating electronic cigarettes for the first time. e-cigarettes are big business. millions of people worldwide are smoking them. sales last year reached nearly $2 billion. chip reid now on the proposed rules. >> reporter: at the d.c. vape joint, the craze is electronic ciga

they're captured ukrainian soldiers also being held in slavyansk.he town's new mayor vyacheslav ponomaryov told us that the european observers are spies. and he wants to swap them for militants held by ukraine's government. >> it looks a bit as though you're using those military observers as hostages, as bargaining chips. >> they appeared on our land where there is martial law, he told us. so as foreign military officers, they're prisoners of war and they can be traded. that was news to the observers who stressed that they have diplomatic status and hadn't undertaken any covert activity. >> reporter: the mayor told us today that you are prisoners of war. is that also your understanding? >> we are not prisoners of war. we are the guests of mayor ponomaryov and he treated us as such. >> reporter: late today one of the europeans was released on medical grounds. the others will continue on as the mayor's guests. holly williams, cbs news, slavyansk, ukraine. >> jeff: the prime minister of south korea resigned today over his handling of the ferry boat dis

holly williams, cbs news, slavyansk, ukraine. >> axelrod: president obama is in the malaysian capital of kuala lumpur tonight, the third of four countries he's visiting on his tour of asia. questions about his foreign policy are dogging mr. obama on this trip. chief white house correspondent major garrett joins us now. major, the president is in asia, but these days, the ukrainian crisis follows him wherever he goes. what impact is it having on this trip? >> reporter: jim, president obama knows his foreign policy here is under fire here at asia and at home. in seoul, the president argued that the answer to every tough foreign policy challenge isn't war and slow-moving diplomacy and economic pressure-- so- called soft power-- can and will work. but the chaos in ukraine has europe on edge and mr. obama on the defensive for talking tougher than he has acted. >> axelrod: naturally, the white house wants to push back against the idea the president is having trouble in the foreign policy arena. are there foreign policy successes he can point to right now? >> reporter: jim, top officials con

there are captured ukrainian soldiers also being held in slavyansk. the town's new mayor told us that the european observers are spies and he wants to swap them for militants held by ukraine's government. it looks a bit as though you're using those military observers as hostages, as bargaining chips. they appeareded on our land where there's martial law, he told us, and they're prisoners of war and they can betrayeded. that was news to the observers who stress thad i have diplomatic status and hadn't undertaken any covert activity. the mayor told us today you are prisoners of war. is that also your understanding? >> we are not prisoners of war. we are the guests of the mayor. and he treated us as such. >> reporter: late today one of the europeans was released on medical grounds. the others will continue on as the mayor's guests. holly williams, cbs news, slavyansk, ukraine. >>> the nba's postseason is being overshadowed by racist comments allegedly made by los angeles clippers owner donald sterling. on sunday with sterling not in attendance the clippe

are the claims of what's going on on the border in slavyansk true? >> reporter: we've certainly seen a buildup of the ukrainian military over the last week or so. we can't say for sure whether this 15,000 figure claim is true. we haven't seen anything to support that. we have seen more ukrainian military, set up more roadblocks around the town of slavyansk. definitely an uptick in the ukrainian government is seeing the next phase against the pro-russian separatists. definitely more ukrainian military, but not on the scale that is alleged to exist across the border in russia where, as you say, russia is still thought to have somewhere between 30,000 and 40,000 troops. >> phil black in kiev, thank you so much. >>> meanwhile millions of people around the world are celebrating the two new saints in the catholic church this morning. >> a member of the cnn team is there and we'll have his impression of the historic day just ahead. i'm m-a-r-y and i have copd. i'm j-e-f-f and i have copd. i'm l-i-s-a and i have copd, but i don't want my breathing problems t

and other developments the south eastern ukrainian city of slavyansk braces for an assault as kiev troops move to blockade it after a deadly attack on checkpoints there anti-government activists say a civil war they fear is starting. and british police urge muslim women to tell tales on their loved ones in a bid to stem the flow of u.k. citizens becoming radicalized in the syrian civil war. very good evening if you just joined us is kevin owen here in moscow tonight at r.t. h.q. and it's us that's in the headlines as you've just heard tonight america's chief diplomat john kerry has accused moscow of using a tool to distort reality. up again to a bullhorn that is the state sponsored russia today program has been deployed

no shots were fired in slavyansk today. but it's tense and unpredictable, and both sides seem ready for a fight. >> pelley: holly williams is joining us. holly, you say both sides are ready for a fight. i wonder, how much concern is there that there could actually be a civil war in ukraine? >> reporter: a lot of concern, scott. many people here are adamant that they want to live in a separate eastern ukraine, and the armed insurgents say that they'll fight for that. meanwhile, ukraine's government says it will use force to remove militants from the towns they've occupied, and that potentially is a recipe for civil war. >> pelley: holly williams, thanks very much. another major story breaking tonight is the search off south korea after the sinking of a ferryboat full of high school students on a class trip. 179 people were rescued, but at least six have died, and more than 280 are missing. seth doane is following this. >> reporter: divers combed the dark waters for any survivors. and those feared trapped below deck. but the

morning a convoy of four cars pulled up to this checkpoint some six kilometers outside the city of slavyansk and immediately opened fire on this checkpoint which was manned by and to keep activists unarmed we have reports of three of them being immediately killed what they did was relay a message into the city and members returned on the anti kiev side very heavy arms and returned fire on the attackers with as we can see these two cars behind me destroyed we do have reports of two killed on the side of the attackers who many of connected many of reported as being members of the private sector this of course being the far right knew not your organization responsible for a series of terrorist attacks around ukraine i've got bullets in my hand and we have bullets littering the ground around here with the death toll reported as being five at the moment marking this as the sharpest escalation of violence here in the east of ukraine and let me remind you who those thought to be behind the attack are the right sector is an ultra fascist organization that was at the forefront of the coup in kiev and

there are today outside slavyansk. just know that all snap of every day life they will be bringing you the latest of course on events as they happen surrounding you crying as they come up to come up after the break because of what you wish for the n.y.p.d. p.r. people felt they were on to a big winner asking new yorkers to send in pretty pictures of officers on patrol good play but. big time we'll tell you why and syria's pretty disposing of its chemical weapons ahead of a new deadline as the country tries to bring another toxic chapter to a close as well here not international very short. language as well but i will only react to situations i have read the reports so i'm like. no i'll leave that to the state department to comment on your latter point to say. ok because i'm not talking no. thank you no more weasel words. when you question me prepared for a change. and you should be ready for a. pretty tough speech. down the freedom to. drama. stories others who refuse to. face is changing. the picture. from around the

prorussian militants occupy the town of slavyansk with army and heavy weapons. while just outside town, concrete blocks cut off the main road, a new tactic. >> these are ukrainian forces that have set up this check point, this blockade, really, of slavyansk, the stronghold of the prorussian militants about five miles down the road. the idea is to isolate this town and prevent any supplies reinforcements, and most of all, weapons from getting through. but on friday insurgents struck back taking a 13-man team of military observers hostage holding them in this building. the observer mission is here to negotiate the end of the conflict but prorussian militants say it's part of it. we get the impression that they are officers carrying out a certain spying mission he said. and with russia showing no signs of reigning in the militants, today, president obama on a state visit to malaysia and other g7 leaders say they will impose more sanctions on russia individuals and businesses but not yet president vladimir putin saying russia has only escalated tensions. but as more

right now, the world's eyes are on the town of slavyansk. obviously the russians have been looking for a pretext to possibly invade here in the eastern ukraine. the question is, what can the ukrainians do in terms of enforcement trying to take this part of the country back. how far can they push it before the russians are willing to come across the border. >> that's something we've been trying to figure out over the past couple of weeks and continues to play out every time the rhetoric gets raised. people here in this part of the country wonder how long it is before russian tanks are rolling across. back to you. >> so many crucial questions. leland, thank you very much. >>> nato now investigating what caused a deadly helicopter crash in afghanistan. a taliban spokesman claims insurgents shot down the british helicopter today. however, nato says it has no reports of enemy activity in the area. five nato troops were killed. meanwhile, officials have identified the american doctors killed at a hospital in afghanistan. father and son, gary and j

been launched to crackdown on protesters occupying administration buildings in the eastern city of slavyansk protests against ukraine's interim government are gathering steam in the east where locals are demanding greater autonomy from kiev activists are thought to be control of the administration police and security offices in eight cities now and we're going to try to talk to live now to journalists philip graham who is in going to joins us on the phone graham if you can hear is ok just bring us the latest please what's happening there i can you. could i could probably explain you. know. why. my well you know. what. but. i get. that all wrong. i'm just rushing in now to what exactly could be an. ok thanks so much a correspondent for the ground bringing us up to date with the latest events there were police are taking action launching an operation against the protesters in sloviansk we will keep you up to date with that story as things progress. now activists are building barricades at the entrance to towns across the net screech and its main city has become the focal point of the resistanc

relaunches a military crackdown on anti-government protesters this in the eastern ukrainian city of slavyansk according to the country's interior ministry three self-defense checkpoints have been destroyed with snipers and troops old now entering that area but self-defense fighters say the armored vehicles have to pull back after they failed to enter the city graham phillips was at one of the checkpoints just outside minutes after it was attacked. now interior minister astronomical was recently stated that while your first of the counter-terrorist operation is going to be stepping up what we see now today the fact here we've got this checkpoint this fortification on the outer limits of the city of slavyansk which is be here now for some two weeks of what we saw the small he was equally only approach from this direction the north is that which is some fifty kilometers away which is a stronghold of ukrainian military operations this was manned at the time by an on down to kiev activists and what they did before to at least set fire to their own barricades to stop the ukrainian army from further

taken by pro russia to this yesterday we can see barricades all the ride here oh i think this is the slavyansk as they declare themselves self-defense. they say they are ready to defend themselves the pay for the attack coming from special forces any minute now. meanwhile the leader of the right sector whose members are reportedly taking active part in attacks against the protesters and ukraine's russian speaking east has ordered a full mobilization of his forces he says the country is in a state of war and that in such circumstances all means necessary are justified but good it was used to put order old elements of the right sector to start a full mobilization and prepare for decisive actions to defend ukraine i call an all police and security forces to assist the right sector instead of stopping us it's essential to bear in mind at a time of war old traders are shocked pacifism and talk of the need for a peaceful solution to the crisis only plays into the hands of our enemies. not just reminded of fighters from the right sector were at the forefront of his bloody coup in kiev its members are

that's enough to level the whole city eradicate its inhabitants previous attacks on checkpoints in slavyansk left five dead nazis pulis lee spoke to the with one of the activists. a little girl asks her mother why she's crying. the tears and trauma are too much to bear. which. i didn't i heard first then a priest came and asked him how do you tell your child her father has died a widow and who often daughter the latest victims of the violence gripping their tone a renewed couple had been married for me for years when tragedy struck. we used to find each other at night when he was at the checkpoints but that night he didn't answer the phone then took from his squad came and told me it was a hard at first i didn't believe it i went to the place where he died and saw for myself. this is the spot where puddle was killed on a side road leading into the town of slovyansk there's still broken glass on the ground puddle did not have to be here he volunteered to stand guard a little bit as. i was very worried i ask him not to go there i told him of for wanting to go but then i saw he was protecting o

the attack on the checkpoint ahead of slavyansk self-defense group has asked russia's president to send troops to protect the town for a firsthand account of the assault graham phillips spoke with one of the locals guarding the checkpoint. the residual sort which we were here manning the checkpoint to the school for as you viz approaching with their headlights on full be one of our guys asked them to turn off their headlights showed their i.d.'s and open the trunk instead a rifle barrel came out of the window and shot him down immediately people jumped out of the cars and opened fire on us they started throwing stun grenades and yelling get down our guys scouted running into the woods some of them tried to run back to the city but there was a sniper cutting off their would treat the first guy who came out of the mood was immediately shot by the sniper so that was the second person they killed there was another guy with him and he just hit the ground and stayed down unable to move very soon reinforcements came from the city there was gunfire from both sides then the attackers realized th

morning a convoy of four cars pulled up to this checkpoint some six kilometers outside the city of slavyansk and immediately opened fire on this checkpoint which was manned by and to keep activists on all matters of the three were killed in our side i don't know how many of the most important. thing to kiev my dad and they brought the two into to power number two when you me i'm proud to say we don't have the right to speak out to ask our people in the right i can speak out dragon actually leukemia prowess because that's the question is. people's blood is on their hands national youth i. am with you on easter day last year you guys they shouldn't have fired over it it was an agreement that's true and this is a holy day they came here to kill our boys. yes you want to be killed he says for being russian. what they did was really a message into the city and members returned only and secure side very heavy arms in return for all the attackers with as we can see these two cars behind me destroyed we do have reports of two killed on the side of the attackers who many have connected many of report

kiev government under any circumstances and that there is now curfew an operation in the city of slavyansk the names of the deceased would released yesterday we went to the lord that it seemed clear evidence of fatalities there we also spoke to a doctor at the hospital here who confirmed that there were now after that shooting we had a heightened atmosphere here in the city with scenes of actions throughout the day and in fact late into the night at the nearby s.b.u. building we had the engines running in military vehicles. building along with the police headquarters around the corner has been in the hands of these antique activists for over a week now as it was those vehicles didn't move anywhere to critical and they're not passed off without further incidents here we've a new day as people wait to see what developments will bring this is graham phillips through slavyansk and of us now hold his military operation to quell the rest in the east which should regards as separatism and terrorism the crackdown began last tuesday after protesters rebuffed the ultimatum to leave the administratio

know what's going on but we will not shoot no way in another incident dozens of soldiers seem to slavyansk also eastern ukraine refused to follow orders the situation is taxing on everyone at this barracks and the ukrainian countryside seems almost like an array says it's so peaceful and quiet here that you can almost forget about the unrest grip. the rest of the country but when warned not to speak a word of ukrainian doing so here could put our lives in danger it is not one piece in ukraine today that is untouched by the fighting. there needs a deal to cool the tension was signed in geneva this week after a marathon talks between top diplomats from russia the u.s. the e.u. and ukraine they made a tentative step towards meeting each other halfway and to try and end the months of political turmoil i had a chance to discuss what came out of the session the founder of wide awake news dot com charlie mcgrath. the document discussed in geneva it calls on it legally armed groups to lay down their weapons who are the illegally armed individuals who are the people that want to stay under the cont

to the extremist thought to have died in a counterattack journalist graham phillips has more from slavyansk. so what happened here is in the early hours of the morning a convoy of four cars pulled up to this checkpoint some six kilometers outside the city of slavyansk and immediately opened fire on this checkpoint which was manned by and to keep activists on alms national were given our site i don't know how many of the. same dickey of my time they brought the two into to pound number two we need me i'm proud to think we don't have the right to be counted our people in the right of can't speak out dragon actually do you mean a promise because that's the question is this people's blood is on their hands national youth i. am with you on easter day last year you don't as they shouldn't of trying to do it it was an agreement this is doing this is a holy day you are they came here to kill our boys. and yet you want to sit in the detail he says for being russian. what they did was relay a message into the city and members returned on the empty kiev sign bearing heavy arms and return fire on the a

against the coup appointed leadership in kiev had a dozen cities one of the hotspots is the city of slavyansk here in the map where up to three people were reportedly killed on sunday these are some of the pictures we received a little earlier on from the rest of the city amid reports that the extremist right sector group has joined the offensive on activists members of this self-defense unit claim they were attacked by the right wing radicals journalist graham phillips is there and he says people are bracing themselves for more violence. these people are a combination of self defense people who have come on ready to defend this territory which is now surrounded the permits by barricades however through the day we've also seen hundreds of local people come out to the streets to express their support for what's happening here they've been calling for a referendum to be calling for their voice to be heard in terms of standing up against the kiev government which they declared as unconstitutional as undemocratic now the day began with the storm attempt in this police headquarters complex behind

reportedly joined police in the crackdown on anti-government protesters in ukraine speech to the city of slavyansk three people are said to have been killed there today and in some of the other top stories that help shape the week. rage and road dozens were reportedly injured after a march against austerity turned violent as record unemployment and soaring housing costs push italians to the edge and. picked out what looked like it was a rock but actually was it greenwald a young afghan war casualty gets treatment in america but he's sent back then to the war zone where hundreds of children killed every year we've got her story. pretty good even if you just joined us it's kevin owen here in moscow tonight at r.t. international the time just past ten pm this is the weekly roundup of the top stories the last seven days but first we're focusing on the big news coming out of ukraine tonight three people have reportedly been killed there today and scores injured as police crackdown on anti-government activists in sloviansk it's in ukraine's east the wave of popular unrest against the coup appointed lead

police here are outside slavyansk. coming up after the break be careful what you wish police to. pictures of officers on patrol. also syria is busy just. ahead of a deadline as the country tries to bring another chapter close to go about story. which. programs are documentaries in arabic it's all here. from the. interviews intrigued. because it. hello again more than ninety percent of syria's chemical weapons materials been destroyed ahead of the sunday deadline the body overseeing the process has praised damascus for accelerating toxic elimination efforts lately but a special coordinator of the joint u.n. mission had this to say. we've always enjoyed constructive corporation of the authorities significant investments have been made of time effort technical level the political level so from the beginning until today i think we've seen very steady progress thanks to the very good collaboration and ultimately also the government taking this program of chemical weapons elimination seriously and obviously needing to see it through to the very end syria is a country at war the securit

morning a convoy of four cars pulled up to this checkpoint some six kilometers outside the city of slavyansk and immediately opened fire on this checkpoint which was manned by anti kiev activists on all matters that were given our site i don't know how many of the times but you know the right thing to kiev my time they brought the two into to power number two we need me i'm proud to think we don't have the right to be counted ask our people into writing can't speak out dragon actually leukemia prowess because that's the question is are bad people's blood is on their hands national just got here at one of them which on easter day last year you've done as they shouldn't of trying to do it it was an agreement this is doing this is a holy day you are they came here to kill our boys. and yet you want to sit in a detail he says for being russian. what they did was relay a message into the city and members returned on the anti kiev side very heavy arms and return fire on the attackers with as we can see these two cause behind me destroyed we do have reports of two killed on the side of the attacker

international in the city of slavyansk three people have reportedly been killed in a shootout during an attack on a checkpoint set up by protesters a local self-defense squad spokesman says those killed were guarding the checkpoint and they were unarmed doctors have confirmed that several people with gunshot wounds have been brought to local hospitals it's thought two of the attackers were also killed when other self-defense units came in to assist there also media reports that weapons were found in the attackers cars and items indicating their affiliation with the radical right sector movement earlier the self-defense movement in a called a truce during easter over any more on this breaking news as soon as we get it here on r.t. international. in the meantime though the russian public got its annual chance this week to press the president what matters to them the most and it's ukraine they wanted to hear. they completely out of their minds this sending tanks troops and. citizens and for hours of live television a lot of face to a raft of questions on the response to its neighbors wa

staying with the city of slavyansk self-defense units that say that they've seized the truck carrying out munition for a multiple rocket launch at this is what the combat vehicle which is nicknamed grad it looks like the locals believe the ammunition they've intercepted belongs to ukraine's interior ministry. also in the latest harsh rhetoric the u.s. secretary of state said that russia is to be held responsible for the recent escalation in ukraine and must clear out of the southeast of the country and a phone conversation with his counterpart sergey lavrov urged to provide evidence to support the allegations which he says now threaten the upcoming talks on the crisis russia has also appealed to kiev not to use force against anti-government protesters at an emergency meeting of the un security council that was called by moscow artie's miniport now has been following the meeting for us in new york. well this was the tenth security council meeting regarding ukraine and the u.s. and its western allies continue to use harsh words when i dressings russia the u.s. many european ambassadors

situation where slavyansk is surrounded by anti kiev anti-government activists and their checkpoints to get into here had to pass through an actual militia which is the crimean police and ukrainian army checkpoint that was some three kilometers down the road they were asking questions referring to these and to kiev these anti-government protesters as terrorists and we do have reports of ukrainian army having mastered around this city we've been able to speak to some people about the situation looks like insisting he did it correct the first military contingent began arriving at the start of this week we've seen armored personnel carriers helicopters and jets constantly flying above our heads these are all said to be ukrainian military and the national guard with right sector members there were also rumors today that these troops some willing tolbert slowdowns can now the rather has allowed the military to shoot at people as part of the anti terrorist operation where all considered terrorists if we are expressing anti-government sentiment. there are three people injured and one has be

the new separatist mayor of slavyansk told our colleague that they were from the 25th residentgimentkrainian soldiers who had changed side. we cannot confirm that. it is not clear whether it is ukrainians who changed sides or vehicles that were taken over by pro-russian sources. it is most likely to be one of those scenarios rather than actually russian tanks having come in from across the border. >> hall of famer i -- gulliver giving us those updates on ukraine. hopes for a diplomatic solution to the crisis have turned to geneva. four-way talks are set to be held there tomorrow. the u.s. has said it is considering increasing sanctions against moscow. it is unlikely to make any move before those talks. moscow has warned that kiev's military action has brought the country to a new point. >> ukraine is on the brink of civil war. that is the warning from russian leaders as ukrainian forces carry out what they described as an antiterrorist operation against pro-moscow separatists in the east of the country. >> ukraine is on the verge of a civil war. it is horrible. i hope everyone respon

the captain tries to stop these men dressed the same as militants in slavyansk. i'm pre russian, an afghan veteran one policeman cries. they're pushed aside. shots in the air. the captain tries again, but fruitlessly. more shooting. after weeks of restraint and as ukraines beleaguered leaders measure how hard they can respond, gunfire is becoming the new language of this crisis. nick paton walsh, cnn, slavyansk. >>> still to come in the "newsroom," a suspect accused of going on a deadly rampage at two jewish centers just before passover. george howell is covering that story for us. he'll have it next. voice ] yes? lactaid® is 100% real milk? right. real milk. but it won't cause me discomfort. exactly, no discomfort, because it's milk without the lactose. and it tastes? it's real milk! come on, would i lie about this? hello. [ female announcer ] lactaid. 100% real milk. no discomfort. and for a 100% real dairy snack you'll 100% enjoy try lactaid® cottage cheese. [ matt ] the only thing better than the smell of fresh-cut grass is the smell of perfectly level, fresh

in the town of slavyansk, they buried three of their men today as russian-speaking separatists chanted, "glory to the heroes." they died in a gun battle on sunday, though like most of the sporadic violence here, the details are murky. what's clear is that the militants have no intention of laying down their guns or leaving the public buildings they've occupied. college student alexander is part of the separatists' inner circle. he told us many people here resent the u.s. for backing ukraine's leaders in kiev and claimed they treat russian speakers in eastern ukraine like second-class citizens. what is it that you want here? >> pelley: holly williams is joining us now. holly, how does the standoff end? >> reporter: scott, the separatists are adamant they won't leave until they get what they want. but on the other side tonight, ukraine's acting president has called for a resumption of what he describes as antiterrorist operations opinion now. that could mean trying to force the militants out of that building. >> pelley: we'll check in with you again tomorrow, holly. thank you very much.

well welcome to the program self-defense forces are on high alert in the eastern ukrainian city of slavyansk after a deadly shooting at a checkpoint saw five people killed the should sound broke a truce announced in the city during easter claimed their attackers were members of the neo nazi a right sect a group policy and now reports. we know in the town of advanced eastern ukraine where on sunday morning five people were killed when members of the right sector attacked a checkpoint exactly like this one as a result just about every road in the town that now has a blog post like this with tires guarded by armed men. the situation is stable and quiet there are almost no newspapers in the town which means that most people here actually don't really know what's happening there also at least two tanks like this one that have been taken by these activists as one told me today the tanks tomorrow don bus. posters like this are dotted around the town knew there was kill ukrainians obviously everyone here extremely angry with what they say is an illegal government in kiev the new mayor of the town ha

slavyansk is one of several towns seeing violence. take a look at the map. up risings are taking place up and down eastern ukraine, all about 100 miles from where russian troops have amassed at the border between eastern ukraine and western russia. phil black is in ukraine. he has more. >> reporter: breaking overnight, ukraine fighting back as conflict intensifies. according to the ministry of defense, two ukrainian soldiers have been kidnapped by russian extremists. ukraine's acting president saying they have begun an anti-terrorist operation aiming to stop attempts to tear ukraine to pieces. for the first time ukraine is using military force. retaking an airport in the eastern done necessarying region after a reported clash with pro russian gunmen. the operation may continue here in the town of slavyansk where pro russian militants defied kiev's demand to give back control over local government buildings. this amateur video reports to show ukrainian tanks and one local risking his life to slow their advance. it's unknown whether you crane will try to recla

they try to hold back a special forces and these are the pictures of armored vehicles converging on slavyansk. a helicopter was also seen flying about right there you can see it and thought to be carrying weapons. now let's cross live to our correspondent for national who's following the developments in the region for us maria good to see you with us again so what is the latest. well the thing is that we're now receiving conflicting reports from the town of stavans here in donetsk region just kilometers away from where we are now and it is not easy to vary by all the information we receive from the ground but what is clear tensions that have been escalating here all over the eastern ukraine are no longer peaceful they turned violent we hear that at least one protester was killed after for obvious sector craze the terrorists far right party joined what key of called an anti terror operation in the town of slovyansk and i have to emphasize that nattie threat this new nasty threat how protestors put it was among the biggest concerns of these people who have been gathering taking to the streets h

russian media report more than 10,000 soldiers are preparing to move in on separatists in the city of slavyansk. across the border thousands of russian troops have been holding drills. president putin has said he reserves the right to protect ethnic russians in ukraine. elsewhere in the region hundreds of u.s. soldiers have arrived to boost the nato presence. western leaders say they don't intend to let this situation turn into a conflict. but appearances are deceiving. craig dale, nhk world. >>> and concerns are growing within japan about the country's massive debt load. ron madison joins me with the latest on that. ron? >> shery, as you know, japan's debt-to-gdp ratio is famously very high. now a finance ministry panel is warning that japan's already huge national debt could grow more than six-fold by the year 2060. an advisory panel to the finance minister wants a radical program of spending cuts and tax rises. the fiscal system council report released is the first-ever long-term projection of fiscal conditions through 2060. japan's debt load is already among the heaviest in the industrializ

a ukrainian military aircraft made an emergency landing near the city of slavyansk after it was hit by gunfire. security forces have been ordered to resume their operation to evict militants from buildings. across the border, russian troops are carrying out drills. leaders in kiev and the west say president vladimir putin is looking for an excuse to grab more territory. he annexed the ukrainian republic of crimea last month after unrest there. nato members are boosting their defenses in the region in response. they've deployed more ships, and u.s. commanders are sending 600 troops. >> if there's a message to moscow, it is the same exact message. that we take our obligations very, very seriously on the continent of europe. >> reporter: vice president biden says time is running out. >> we will not allow this become to an open-ended process. >> reporter: but pro-russian activists in the east don't seem to be listening. >> translator: the u.s. should not interfere with ukraine's internal politics. >> reporter: the people here say they're preparing to repel an attack by ukrainian forces. th

the army's attempt to recapture territory from the militants outside the town of slavyansk recently came to nothing. dmytro tkachenko is a pro- government activist who we met delivering razor wire to a national guard base after a nearby base was attacked by separatists. do you think that the soldiers are frightened at the moment? >> i think that they feel something not good. and now this is one of the poorest army in the eastern europe. >> reporter: ukraine's government is hoping to stave off civil war and stop this region from breaking away. so, scott, what's happening here is frustrating for the country's leaders. the acting president oleksandr turchinov condemned the police in eastern ukraine today for what he called inaction, helplessness, and sometimes criminal betrayal. >> pelley: holly williams covering for us in eastern ukraine. thank you, holly. tomorrow, iraq will hold its first nationwide elections since u.s. withdrew in 2011. militants linked to al qaeda are fighting the government there, and they control much of the country. they've been attacking to disrupt the vote. today,

but in central slavyansk outside city hall which is being in the hands of anti kiev activists sincerelyast week after the tragic shooting with a reported five deaths and further injuries there was a press conference held in a press conference the newly appointed people's mayor confirms that they held the private sector and this is of course the far right you'll not see organization responsible for that tac which had left a reporter to be killed on the side of the end to keep activists he also asked for russian assistance help as he called it stated his own willingness to work with the kiev government under any circumstances and that there is no curfew no pray should in the city of slavyansk the names of the deceased what was being suggested a we went to the morgue and clear evidence of fatalities there we also spoke to a doctor at the hospital here who confirmed that there were kids now after that shooting we had a heightened atmosphere here in the city with scenes of action is around the day and in fact late into the night to the nearby s.b.u. building we had the engines running in mil

right sector group reportedly joined police actions of anti-government protesters in the city of slavyansk where people said to have been killed. also rage in rome dozens were reportedly injured after a march against austerity turned violent as record unemployment and soaring housing costs pushed italians to the edge and. picked up what looked like was a rock but actually was it a young afghan war casualty gets treatment in america but is sent back to the war zone where hundreds of children are killed every year we've got her story to. follow very good morning chooses art international with me kevin owen it's just after one am here now well big news coming out from here this morning kids interim government's preparing a massive crackdown on protesters in the east of the country involving the armed forces demonstrators were given an ultimatum to vacate all seized government buildings by six am g.m.t. or monday that the national security council ever says the operation could start earlier mattick could start tonight that's as a wave of popular unrest against the coup appointed leadership in

ukraine to suppress and to government protests have switched sides joining activist in the cities of slavyansk and kramatorsk this is video from the area and armored personnel carrier with a russian flag which has become the symbol of an end to king of unrest in ngs flying from its roof journalist ground phillips is and slovyansk. now you can see behind me you can hear behind me we've been. watching the russian flags and these reports of a defected from the ukrainian army and they were putting on basically a show for the locals and these a.p.c.'s well turning doing spins for them but then they were being deployed in the serious business of going off of positions around the city. to take up those positions to fortify the city because talk of ukrainian forces being in the area so we have. defections and in fact we were able to speak to someone. who seemed exactly that. and so defense forces approached the ukrainian troops and asked them to surrender they thought for a little while and then agreed they reacted quite normally there were a lot of very young guys among them so that's why some come a

overhead and these agencies these military vehicles have been deployed out to prove it is the city of slavyansk which is fortified which is effectively in a state of siege here at the moment as. well just to recap was the first of the cities held by the activists to come under attack government soldiers took over the military airport there as kiev launched an operation against the popular unrest that's overwhelmed ukraine southeast protests across the region are demanding more autonomy from kiev saying they don't recognize the coup appointed government now he's there for their part of stress that if the protesters don't lay down their arms they will be quote destroyed. well the situation in kramatorsk continues to develop here's amateur footage now that surfaced online today residents managing to stop a column of armored vehicles. i was like you but i was you are ignoring me you're supposed to protect us from doing like we said when we were not going to shoot you weren't even planning on it they were close up in the middle of the night and told us to head out the window and he's another video a

s these military vehicles having been deployed to prove it is the city of slavyansk which is fortified which is effectively in a state of siege at the moment. just a reminder current or of course the first of the cities held by the activists to come under attack government soldiers took over the military airport there asking have launched an operation against the popular unrest that's overwhelmed ukraine se protesters across the region are demanding more autonomy from kiev saying they did not recognize that coup appoint a government there those authorities have stressed that if the protesters in. lay down their arms they will be the straw and. now the situation across into us continues to develop and here is amateur footage that surfaced online today where residents managed to stop a column of armored vehicles. that was a regular that was you are the army you're supposed to protect us and i would like to say they were not going to shoot we weren't even planning on it they would go soft in the middle of the night and told us to head out with a guy like me well here's another video also

graham phillips circling of the city of slavyansk is the latest stage of the military operation the kickedoff earlier this week on thursday the ukrainian army attacked self defense checkpoints there killing up to seven people. in other developments the ukrainian military support strong its presence in the eastern provinces according to recently surfaced satellite images you see on the news all here the pictures published by the ria novosti news agency purports to show troop positions around the protests to stronghold the city of slavyansk we've been talking about a source in russia's defense ministry said that in all they estimate around fifteen thousand troops are now stationed there along with hundreds of tanks and armored vehicles and according to the source that's enough to level the entire city meantime reports of a merge the ukrainian troops might soon be reinforced with mercenaries from georgia to volunteers to fight against anti-government activists in eastern ukraine are being recruited apparently from nationalist groups there the claim was made by the russian newspaper is vestey

for launches a military crackdown on anti-government protesters in the eastern ukrainian city of slavyansk according to the interior ministry three self-defense checkpoints were destroyed with tanks snipers and troops now being deployed to the area to fans forces in some hours are saying they had to regroup into the city center as they are expanding in new offensive activist in donetsk region have announced for mobilization they describe the situation as civil war ukraine southeast has been in the grip of mass protests for months with people defying the interim government in kiev and a man in greater autonomy. after the break more explicit insight into the work of our teams correspondent and a news team to stay with us. the standoff or should i say stand down by the government at the bundy ranch is probably the largest victory for the average american against the bureaucratic machine that any of us have seen in years in fact this event is a microcosm of what's going on in america you have this classical image of what's of such an american cowboy the rugged individual wrong by the current f

well the encirclement of the city of slavyansk is the latest stage of the military operation the kicked off earlier this week on thursday the aquarian army attacked self-defense checkpoints there killing up to seven people. meantime reports of emerged that ukrainian troops might soon be reinforced with mercenaries from georgia volunteers to fight against anti-government activists in eastern ukraine have been recruited from nationalist groups there but claims made by the russian newspaper quoting unnamed members of the georgian parliament recruitment drives vegetal being coordinated and financed by n.g.o.s and the former ruling party of georgia's ex president mikhail saakashvili the country's former leader we must note openly supported the protests in central kiev that led to the regime change in ukraine in the first place. and a new development in the last few hours regarding we always see delegation is given following that strand of it we're now they've managed to secure the release of one of the military experts detained by self-defense members friday the man who's got diabetes was fr