Ukrainian authorities say they have retaken the main government building from pro-Russian protesters in the eastern city of Kharkiv.<br /><br />They say 70 people were arrested in an anti-terrorist operation.<br /><br />Russia meanwhile has said Ukraine should avoid military preparations that could spark a civil war.<br /><br />On Monday, Washington warned Moscow against moving “overtly or covertly” into eastern Ukraine, saying there’s evidence that pro-Russian protesters are being paid.<br /><br />Separatists are holding out in two other Ukrainian cities, Donetsk and Luhansk, in what Kyiv has called a Russian-led plan to dismember the country.<br /><br />In Donetsk, the Russian flag still flew above the regional government building on Tuesday morning.<br /><br />Rebels have called for a referendum on secession from Ukraine.<br /><br />One pro-Russian protester said:<br />“We hope people watching now will be loyal, because we will not leave this place until we make a referendum happen.”<br /><br />Another man had a different vision: “I hope that we will have a united Ukraine, but as a federal state,” he said.<br /><br />Reports quoting Ukrainian authorities say they have promised not to storm the Donetsk government building.<br /><br />After overnight talks, protesters reportedly gave up some weapons, and agreed to withdraw their earlier declaration of a “people’s republic”.
