06/03/2014 BBC World News

This is BBC World News. The top stories: Ukraine's politically

divided Crimea region will vote on whether to become part of Russia in

just ten days time. The move has been called unconstitutional.

Russian troops continue to surround military bases in Crimea. We are on

board one of the blockaded ships for first-hand experience there. Down

here is the Russian patrol boat. We have sneaked onto this boat right

under the noses of the Russians. They would not have let us do it if

they had seen us. The European Union meets in an

emergency session. They hear the Ukrainian interim Prime Minister

tell Russia to respect his country's sovereignty. There is a

blockade of Ukrainian naval forces so they are still provoking the

clashes and attention. -- the tension.

Their years, Ukraine's interim Prime Minister appealing to the European

Union for support in Brussels with another morning of fast-moving

elements in Crimea and Ukraine itself. -- there he is. Within the

last hour, it has emerged that Russia could become part of Russia.

In just ten days, there will be a referendum, which has just been

brought forward, on whether to join Russia. The date will be March the

16th. And the message from the Ukrainian Prime Minister to the EU

leaders is that this is not just a crisis for Ukraine and Russia but

Europe, too. The European Union must decide whether sanctions, diplomacy

or other options can pressure Russia into reversing the armed action in

Crimea. In Crimea, tense military stand-offs continue in several

places. Russian troops still surround Ukrainian military bases.

In eastern city of Donetsk, the Ukrainian flag has again been

hoisted over a Government building, which has been contested the four

days now. Reports from the extreme East of Crimea, including Kerch,

another Ukrainian military base, say that several ships broke free from

the Russian blockade, fearing that they would be sunk by the Russians.

And this is Perevalnoye, in the East of Ukraine. Russian armed forces

patrolling outside a military base, and there it is, the Russian flag

flying. Let's go live to Ben Brown in Sevastopol in Crimea.

Thank you. All those stand-offs continuing at various military

installations in Crimea. It is the political development that is really

crucial today, I think. That referendum that has been called by

the Crimean Parliament today. It will be on March 16. The vote in

favour of that was overwhelming, 78 to eight extensions. The question is

very simple for the voters. Do you want to be part of Ukraine or Russia

and the answer is likely to be Russia because the majority of the

population here in Crimea, nearly 60%, are ethnic Russians. Vladimir

Putin has been discussing that request to be part of Russia with

his Security Council, because what happened was the Crimean Parliament

voted to be part of Russia, but then they put it to a referendum as well.

This all comes at a time when tensions are already high. It is

likely to ratchet up the tension is even higher. And against a backdrop

of that EU summit in Brussels, where they are discussing possible

sanctions and measures against Moscow for its intervention in

Crimea as we now report. In Brussels, an emergency gathering

of European leaders and the unity of concern over Ukraine. But with no

sign of headway on the diplomatic front so far, what next? We need to

send a very clear message to the Russian Government that what has

happened is unacceptable and should have consequences. And were further

action to be taken, that would be even more unacceptable and would

require even more consequences. But EU officials know there are

differences here between EU member states over how tough line to take

towards Moscow or whether to emphasise need for more mediation.

The Ukrainian Prime Minister has also underlined his view of what is

at stake as he also accused Russia of stoking tensions. This is not

Ukrainian - Russian conflict. It is a conflict in Europe. And we need

urgently, I would like to underline again, urgently to tackle this

problem. We are ready to find a solution. We are ready to find an

off ramp together with the US, the EU, with Russia, and clearly with

Ukrainian participation. And we ask Russia to respond. Among the options

on the table for EU leaders to consider, the suspension of talks on

visa liberalisation, but some, particularly from Eastern Europe,

are pushing for the threat at least if not the implementation for now

further targeted sanctions. In Rome meanwhile, the US Secretary of State

John Kerry has arrived to continue the diplomatic push to defuse the

crisis. The Americans described his first face-to-face encounter with

his Russian counterpart on Ukraine in Paris as tough. And as if to

underline the continuing tensions, the UN special envoy is forced to

flee Crimea and after being threatened by a group of

unidentified armed men. And certainly no real sign in Crimea off

Russian or pro-Russian forces relaxing their grip in what remains

a high-stakes confrontation. The stand-offs at various Ukrainian

military installations continue around Crimea. We went to an air

defence missile site earlier today, where Russian troops came in about a

week ago and surrounded the missile defence base. Actually when we went

to talk to Ukrainian commanders there this morning, they said

Russian troops had withdrawn last night, so that did appear to be an

easing of tensions in one area at least. But the naval blockade which

is going on behind me of Ukrainian ships, and you might be able to see

a Russian minesweeper at seat behind me, that is part of the naval

blockade keeping in the Ukrainian ships. That blockade continues.

Christian Fraser has managed to get onto one of Ukrainian vessel that is

blockaded. The first crew that has been allowed

aboard this ship, the controlling command vessel which has been under

blockade for a week, sitting next door to the Ukrainian Corvette also

under blockade. You can imagine for the officers, forced to make the

choice between the new authority in Crimea and the new Government in

Kiev, they are really between a rock and a hard place. You can see the

bridge behind me. They are watching the Russians who are watching the

Ukrainians, out there with binoculars. Behind me, the deputy

commander. I have checked the magazines of those rifles that they

are holding and there are no rounds inside them, no bullets. The only

thing they have to defend this ship, and this is a Navy warship remember,

is this hose down here. There are basically trying to show the

Russians that they want this to be a peaceful stand-off. They put

mattresses along the railings of the ship over the course of the week to

try and stop Russians fixing grappling hooks and ropes to the

side of the ship. This man is standing guard, effectively on

point, but without any arms to defend the ship. Let me show you the

blockade because of here we get a better view than we did from

dockside. If you look to the harbour wall, you can see the minesweeper

heading out to Bay and the ship to its left. Two ships from the Black

Sea fleet blocking the channel. Beyond it is a minesweeper which has

been patrolling back and forth. Down here is the Russian patrol boat. We

sneaked onto the boat under the noses of the Russians. They would

not have let us do it if they had seen us, I can tell you. This is

difficult because there is a lot of kit on board the boat but we are

going to switch past the producers and the other camera crew, excuse

me, to show you the Corvette on this side. This is the heavily armed

gunboat. They have been swapping the decks. It might be a crisis but

everything is shipshape. And at the channel, these are four Russian

ships from the Black Sea fleet. These navies have lived cheek by

jowl for so long. The commanders know their counterparts. The

commander here cannot get through to his Russian colleague that they used

to be so friendly with. They are not answering calls. On the dockside

here, if I just squeeze past you, we are not seeing Russian soldiers. In

these buildings at the back, when we were down here yesterday, there were

snipers and machine guns on the side. They have allowed them to

bring up some food, shipment of bread. So at least the crew will eat

well tonight. But they are all worried about their families. A lot

of them are from here. We have had word that the new pro-Russian Prime

Minister in Crimea is bringing forward a referendum and it will be

a straight choice for Crimea. Do they want to be with Crimea or

Ukraine? The guys here are sticking with Kiev. They are going to hold

their positions here. They will try to sail out of here and go back to

Odessa if Crimea goes towards Russia.

Christian Fraser reporting from on-board Ukrainian vessel. What is

Moscow's next move in this crisis? Steve Rosenberg has been speaking to

Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister, asking him whether he thought this

was the most serious crisis for Russia since the fall of the Berlin

Wall. We have had a few crises before this one which were no less

awful, I would say. We had the Yugoslavian crisis of the late 90s,

for example, which was no less awful. I would not put this in these

terms, as more awful, because we have not overcome a point of no

return. So I would not say this. It is a political crisis, of course,

but it can be resolved by political means. Do you hold the West

responsible for this? Not responsible for this but it should

bear some responsibility for what has happened. The West has neglected

how close and important relations with Ukraine and Russia are. When we

asked the West to involve us in discussing the future of Ukraine, at

that time, and as you will remember, as you probably well know, we were

held very responsible negotiations with Ukraine on the European Union.

The West, the European Union, has rejected Russia's participation in

this process. And what happened next, after the agreement on the

cessation, it was suspended by the Ukrainian President. The events in

Kiev started and I think the West should bear some responsibility.

Responsibility for how the events developed. What is the way out of

this? What does Russia want now? Negotiations and political dialogue

of course. Diplomacy is a thing... Today you are the witness of a

political debate here. It reflects the sentiment and the feelings of

Russian society in general on the situation in Ukraine, a country

which is not the distant and strange crisis for us. It holds many ties

with Russia, personal, economic and political. We cannot stand idle. We

cannot ignore what is happening there. This was a political debate.

My profession is diplomacy, which is something that works behind the

scenes. Behind the scenes we will continue to work for a political

resolution to the crisis. The Ukrainian Prime Minister is meeting

the NATO Secretary-General in Brussels. Are you not concerned that

Moscow's actions will push Ukraine quicker towards NATO and the

European Union, which Russia does not see as being in Russia's

interests? We have always said this many times that Ukraine should be in

NATO. That is a red line for us. The other thing is conditions on which

Ukraine was invited to join, the cessation. That is a different

story. In the West, responsible politicians understand that no less

than us. I do not imagine Ukraine neither in the nearest future nor in

the future at all... I think the best option for Ukraine is to stay

neutral. That is the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister talking to Steve

Rosenberg in Moscow. The main development of the day, and another

fast-moving day of developments in Crimea, is the decision by the

Crimean Parliament to bring forward the referendum and to have a

referendum on March the 16th, said ten days time with a straight

question. Do you want to be part of Russia or Ukraine? It is a

referendum that will raise the stakes here and raised tensions as

well. there are pictures coming in just to remind you of the political

emphasis. That is the regional capital of Crimea. What is

significant either flags. On the left is the Russian flag, on the

right to the predominately white flag but with blue at the top and

read at the bottom, underscoring this is a Crimean flag and these are

Crimean people who are supporting the rejoining of Russia. Only a

small crowd at the moment outside the parliament. The Deputy Prime

Minister said the referendum will now take place in ten days from now.

He said that referendum was legal. The Prime Minister currently in

Brussels and his new Cabinet and Government are illegitimate in the

view of the Crimean Government and as we have heard as well of the

Russian Government. Pakistan's Prime Minister has been

meeting with representatives of the Pakistani Taliban. The discussions

were arranged by him and took place in Islamabad. Talks between the two

sides had been resumed on Wednesday. They had been suspended because the

Taliban said they killed 23 troops. Iran's Foreign Minister has

dismissed as a lie that it was behind a shipment of weapons

intended for Palestinian militants in Gaza. Israel said it seized ship

in the red Sea carrying dozens of rockets. The report was described as

a failed lie, just in time, they said of the annual anti-Iranian

campaign. NATO says at least five Afghan National Army personnel have

been accidentally killed during a NATO operation. NATO has not

confirmed the details, but it is thought the fatalities came during

an air strike in the east of the country. The Afghanistan Government

has yet to comment. Still to come: The plight of Rohinga Muslims in

Burma. We report on one group who cannot leave their compound without

an armed escort. Libya's Government says Colonel Gaddafi's third son is

in custody in Tripoli after two years on the sun. Saadi Gaddafi has

been extradited from Niger. He claimed asylum. He had his beard and

head shaved before being returned to Libya. He is accused of shooting

protesters when he was head of Libya's special Armed Forces. I

asked our correspondent in what circumstances he had returned from

Niger. We know he was transferred by plane from Niger when he landed in

Tripoli after midnight at around 2:15am local time. He has since been

transferred to a prison in the capital which is also home to

several other Libyan officials who served in the Gaddafi Government.

Was this an agreement? Why did this happen? Why was he returned from

Niger? We will have to wait for more details from the Government to

understand how this came about exactly, but we do know generally

speaking Libyan authorities have been seeking Saadi Gaddafi's

extradition from Niger since he fled the country and that was in

September 2011, a month before the end of the war that toppled his

father's 42 year rule. For the past few months there have been rumours,

especially on social media, every week with people saying Saadi

Gaddafi is back in Libya and today it happens to be true. A lot of

people were expecting this and because efforts had intensified in

negotiating with the Niger Government on getting him back onto

Libyan soil. This is BBC world News. The headlines: Crimea's politically

divided region will vote in a referendum in ten days to decide

whether to become part of the Russian Federation. Kiev has

condemned the move as unconstitutional. Russian troops

remain in the Crimean region continuing their blockade in the

Black Sea. To Venezuelan where the president

has said his country is breaking diplomatic relations and freezing

economic ties with Panama. With a ceremony to mark the death of the

former president Hugo Chas -- Hugo Chavez, the president accused Panama

of being against his country. One month on, protests continue in

Venezuelan. In some places they have turned violent. Protesters vowed

they will not leave the streets and the President Nicolas Maduro

resigns. Not even today, a special day, the anniversary of the death of

Hugo Chavez. Celebrations included a military parade during which Nicolas

Maduro was accompanied by some of his most important allies, such as

Raul Castro of Cuba. Later in the day he made a show of force is

breaking relations with Panama by meddling in interior affairs.

TRANSLATION: We are breaking ties with the Government or Panama and to

freeze all the economic relations at this time. Throughout the city the

image of the late president was everywhere and the emotion was

genuine. A year after his death, Hugo Chavez's figure remains very

much alive. In this working-class area where his remains lie, he is

worshipped like a saint. This call represents a call for the Government

to push back and continue the original revolution. Today's

supporters offered some respite for Nicolas Maduro. Protests have been

going on since early February, but the president is minimising them.

TRANSLATION: Today on March five, the remnants of the violent groups

that threatened our country, the country is now living in

tranquillity since this morning and for the days to come. And his

supporters agree. We asked these people to reflect. There are very

few people and abroad they are magnifying them. We believe the

protests are pure sabotage. They think only about themselves and not

about the poor people. So fired there is no end in sight for the

protests. It is also too early to say whether Hugo Chavez's image will

be enough of a support amidst this crisis for the Government.

No to Myanmar following the Government decision to suspend the

wake of the international charity medicine son frontiers. It is the

biggest provider of health care to the Rohingas who live there and has

been accused by the Government of being biased in their favour. Our

correspondent Jonah Fisher went to visit the enclave of Aung Mingalar

in the state capital Sittwe where Muslim Rohingas live surrounded by

Buddhists. This is the main road. Whether you can use it depends on

who you are. Foreigners need a permit, Buddhists are waved through

and the Muslims who live here are blocked. The authorities say it is

to protect the Muslims from the Buddhists outside. But the barbed

wire, checkpoints and hostile neighbours have turned this into a

prison. Two years ago this man was a successful Taylor running a shop in

a Buddhist area. During the sectarian violence of 2012, his

business was destroyed and he now does his sewing a friend's machine.

He tells me he fled to avoid being hacked to death by a Buddhist mob.

Like most of the 4000 Muslims here he is struggling to make ends meet

and has sold most of his belongings to buy food for his family. My bike,

my rickshaw, there is not much left for me to sell, he says, we are all

becoming thin through lack of food. Twice a week the community here pays

the police for a security escort and a small group is allowed to go to

market to buy much-needed supplies. The life is slowly being squeezed

out of this Muslim community. There is already no place for them to go

to find work and now after the Government kicked out the medical

aid agency Medecins Sans Frontieres, there is no place for them to go to

get treatment either. These were the scenes last week as Buddhist groups

demonstrated outside the offices. The charity was one of the biggest

aid agencies working here, but was accused of siding with the Rohinga

community. TRANSLATION: If they were just doing their job, they would not

have to leave, but they kept getting the wrong information about these

Bengali is and giving it out to the international community. They have

inflamed the conflict here. But this is what it all means. A

sick baby and her even sicko mother unable to leave her bed. A father at

his wits end, trapped and powerless as his family's health fades. I

cannot do anything as there is no doctor here, he tells me. I spent

all my time thinking about how I can get them to some care.

The segregation has brought the town a degree of stability, but the event

of the last two weeks are a reminder of how raw and reconcile the

divisions here still are. As is so often the case, it is that week and

vulnerable who will suffer the most. Let me give you the latest in

Ukraine. Let's go live to the capital of Crimea. You can see both

Russian flags and Crimean flags because Crimea could rejoin Russia

within a matter of days. The regional parliament has just voted

in favour of becoming part of Russia and will now ask the Crimean people

to ratify the decision ten days from now on March 16.