Armed men seize Crimea airport in Ukraine

The main airport in Simferopol in Ukraine's eastern Crimea region is continuing to operate normally hours after it was seized by pro-Russian armed men who had also taken over government buildings in the region in a direct challenge to authorities in the capital Kiev following president Viktor Yanukovich's ouster.

At least 40 pro-Moscow armed men had earlier annexed a number of government buildings in Crimea, a region with a Russian ethnic majority.

"I can see four trucks, which I assume are filled with men, leaving the airport," one reporter said, adding that at least nine armed men, dressed in combat fatigues, were still inside the airport.

He added that air traffic was kept "on time and schedule, some way or another."

Another correspondent, Robin Forestier-Walker said "the reason for coming here may have been to assess whether the new administration in Kiev has sent down any military aircraft or troops to Simferapool". Reports said that another military airport had also been taken over by the armed men.

"We don't know who they are, or where they are from," he said, describing the situation as "worrying."

Meanwhile, Ukraine's pro-Moscow ousted president is expected to hold his first public appearance since his disappearance last week.

Yanukovich has apparently been emboldened by the takeover of government buildings by the armed groups.

Yanukovich - who fled Kiev last week following weeks of deadly protests - is due to give a press conference in Russia's southwestern city of Rostov-on-Don on Friday at 1300 GMT, the Agence-France Presse reported citing Moscow's three main news agencies.

Oleksander Turchynov, the acting Ukraine president who has replaced Yanukovich, told parliament he had ordered troops and police to take "all measures" needed to protect Ukrainian citizens after the apparent pro-Russian takeover of buildings.

Turchynov's statement also gave warning that any movement by Russian military forces in the Crimean Black Sea port of Sevastopol, would be considered a "military aggression".

The area has been closed off "to prevent bloodshed", according to news agency AFP.

"Measures have been taken to counter extremist actions and not allow the situation to escalate into an armed confrontation in the centre of the city,'' Arsen Avakov, Ukraine interior minister, said.

Meanwhile, Crimea's autonomous parliament has set a referendum on the region's status on May 25, according to AFP, which is the same day during which the new government in Kiev is set to hold fresh presidential elections. 

The autonomous government of Crimea still considers Yanukovich to be Ukraine's president.

Vladimir Konstantinov, speaker of Crimea's parliament, said on Thursday the autonomous republic appointed a new prime minister, Sergei Aksenov, with Yanukovich's approval.