In Ukraine's eastern city of Luhansk, pro-Russian protesters reinforced their barricades on Thursday.<br/> <br />They're separatists, holed up in a handful of government buildings across several eastern cities for four days now.<br/> <br />They're demanding regional referendums on independence and closer ties to neighboring Russia.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN ON STAGE SAYING:<br/> <br />"Russia will never leave us in trouble. I also want to call on Putin to help us, the southeast of Ukraine. Those who don't want help should go to the west."<br/> <br />The central government in Kiev thinks the separatist crisis in its east could become a pretext for Russia to invade.<br/> <br />Acting President Oleksander Turchinov says his government is ready to immediately consider more self-rule for local councils.<br/> <br />And willing to grant protesters amnesty.<br/> <br />SOUNDBITE (Ukrainian) ACTING UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT OLEKSANDER TURCHINOV, SAYING:<br/> <br />"We guarantee there will be no criminal prosecution of p
