Pro-Russian rebels declare a victory in a referendum vote on self-rule in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk.
(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) ROMAN LYAGIN, HEAD OF THE SEPARATIST ELECTION COMMISSION SAYING:
"89.07 percent of voters voted in favour"
(NAT) APPLAUSE
SOUNDBITE) (Russian) ROMAN LYAGIN, HEAD OF THE SEPARATIST ELECTION COMMISSION SAYING:
"10.19 percent voted against and 0.74 percent ballots were spoiled."
The head of the separatist election commission said the announcement of the results was rushed due to rising tensions in the region.
(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) ROMAN LYAGIN, HEAD OF THE SEPARATIST ELECTION COMMISSION SAYING:
"The situation in the region has heated up so much that we decided not to take our time with the announcement of the results..."
Donetsk is the larger of two eastern Ukrainian regions
The referendum vote on self-rule held by separatists has been declared illegal by the pro-Western government in Kiev and t
