Ukraine to create humanitarian corridors

Pro-Russia militants have been battling Ukrainian forces in areas of Luhansk and Donetsk

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has ordered the creation of humanitarian corridors for civilians to flee areas of the east hit by conflict.

In a statement, the presidency said ministers had been ordered to set up "all necessary conditions for civilians who want to leave".

Violence between pro-Russia militants and #Ukrainian forces has left more than 200 people dead, officials say.

#Russia called for corridors last week to enable civilians to leave.

Mr Poroshenko, who met Russia's President Vladimir #Putin on Friday at the D-Day commemorations in France, said at his inauguration in Kiev the next day that he would provide safe passage for "Russian militants" out of Ukraine.

Violence is continuing in two eastern regions, Donetsk and Luhansk, where separatists have declared independence. Some of the worst attacks have been in and around the towns of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk.

Mr Poroshenko (L) and the Russian leader attended commemorations in Normandy on Friday

Pro-Russia gunmen are holding several government buildings and Ukrainian troops are taking part in a "counter-terror operation".

But Ukraine's new leader has declared that "we must stop the gunfire this week" and called for daily meetings involving representatives from Kiev, Moscow and the Organization for Security and Co-operation and Europe.

In his statement, President Poroshenko said that to prevent further victims of the "counter-terror operation" he had instructed all heads of law enforcement agencies to create the safe corridors for civilians. BBC News