Rebels in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine claimed that 89 percent of voters had cast ballots in favour of independence in a disputed referendum on Sunday, with 10 percent against.
"These can be considered the final results," Roman Lyagin, the head of Donetsk's self-styled electoral commission, told reporters shortly after polling stations closed.
He said that turnout was just under 75 percent.
Donetsk was one of two regions holding referendums on independence from Ukraine that authorities in Kiev have slammed as a "farce" and the West fears will bring the ex-Soviet Republic closer to civil war.
There was no immediate word on results from the other region, Lugansk, where polls closed slightly later.
Rebels in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine claimed that 89 percent of voters had cast ballots in favour of independence in a disputed referendum on Sunday, with 10 percent against.
“These can be considered the final results,” Roman Lyagin, the head of Donetsk’s self-styled electoral commission, told reporters shortly after polling stations closed.
He said that turnout was just under 75 percent.
Donetsk was one of two regions holding referendums on independence from Ukraine that authorities in Kiev have slammed as a “farce” and the West fears will bring the ex-Soviet Republic closer to civil war.
There was no immediate word on results from the other region, Lugansk, where polls closed slightly later.
