Ukraine president warns of separatism
Ukraine's interim President Olexander Turchynov has warned of the dangers of separatism following the ousting of President Viktor Yanukovych.
Many in Ukraine's Russian-speaking regions oppose his overthrow and the installation of a more European-leaning interim administration.
Russia is also angry at the changes, but Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said Moscow will not intervene.
The formation of a unity government has been delayed until Thursday.
Addressing parliament, Mr Turchynov said he would meet law enforcement agencies to discuss the risk of separatism in regions with large ethnic Russian populations.
Separatism was a "serious threat", he said.
Crimea and some pro-Russian areas in the east have seen protests against the overthrow of Yanukovych, sparking fears of secession.
The delay in announcing a unity government was to allow further consultations, Mr Turchynov said, adding that "a coalition of national faith must be elected".
'Unilateral advantages'
Russia has been vehemently opposed to the changes in Ukraine, with Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev saying on Monday that those behind the new administration had conducted an "armed mutiny".
At a news conference in Moscow on Tuesday, Lavrov warned other states against seeking "unilateral advantages" in Ukraine, but said Russia's "policy of non-intervention" would continue.
"It is dangerous and counter-productive to try to force on Ukraine a choice according to the principle of either being with us or against us," he said.
Lavrov added that "it is in our interest for Ukraine to be part of the broad European family" but against Russia's interest to "allow the radicals and nationalists who are clearly trying to take centre stage to prevail."
It is still unclear where Yanukovych is, but an arrest warrant has been issued. He was last reportedly seen on Sunday in Balaklava on the Crimean peninsula.
Acting Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said a criminal case had been opened against the ousted president and other officials over "mass murder of peaceful citizens".
More than 80 people, mostly anti-Yanukovych protesters, were killed in clashes with police and by sniper fire last week.
Elections
The electoral commission has meanwhile formally opened the campaign for elections, due to take place on 25 May.
Former PM Yulia Tymoshenko, who was released from jail on Saturday, has ruled out becoming prime minister. But her spokeswoman said she had not yet decided whether to run for the presidency.
In the eastern city of Kharkiv, where Yanukovych has enjoyed support, the head of the regional state administration has said he will be a presidential candidate.
Speaking on Kanal 5 TV, Mykhaylo Dobkin, gave as his reason "the fact that a total attack on the rights of the Russian-speaking population is under way, that laws are being adopted that threaten all those who do not accept fascism and Nazism".
Dobkin has been under pressure from local demonstrators to quit.
Meanwhile, UK Foreign Secretary William Hague is to meet US Secretary of State John Kerry in Washington later to discuss emergency financial assistance to Kiev.
Hague has warned that Ukraine faces imminent economic collapse without support from the international community.
The US has already said it is ready to give financial support to Ukraine to complement any future loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Ukraine is facing bankruptcy. Further promised loans from Russia are looking increasingly unlikely.
EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton remains in Kiev to discuss financial and political support for Ukraine's new leaders.
Senior US officials, including Deputy Secretary of State William Burns, will join EU officials in Kiev to participate in two days of meetings with political, business and civil society leaders.
White House official Jay Carney said on Monday that although Yanukovych "was a democratically elected leader, his actions have undermined his legitimacy, and he is not actively leading the country at present''.
Western leaders, including French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, have sent written appeals to Russian President Vladimir Putin to urge a peaceful transition in Ukraine.
Thousands of people remain in Kiev's Independence Square, the Maidan.
Unrest in Ukraine began in November when Yanukovych rejected a landmark association and trade deal with the EU in favour of closer ties with Russia.
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