Crimea holds secession referendum

MOSCOW, Mar 16 (Agencies): President Vladimir Putin told German Chancellor Angela Merkel in a telephone conversation on Sunday that he was concerned over tensions in Ukraine's Russian-speaking southeastern regions.

"The Russian president once again expressed concern over tensions in Ukraine's south and southeast being inflamed by radical groups with the connivance of Kiev's authorities," the Kremlin said in a statement following the talks.

Putin also "stressed that Russia will respect the choice of Crimea's residents" in Sunday's historic referendum on breaking away from Ukraine to join Russia, the statement said.

The Russian leader reiterated Moscow's position that the referendum was in line with international law, it said.

Crimea voted Sunday on whether to rejoin Russia or stay with Ukraine but with more autonomy.

The referendum has been condemned as "illegal" by Kiev and the West but is backed by Moscow.

Since the fall of Ukraine's pro-Moscow President Viktor Yanukovych, Russian troops have in effect taken control of the majority ethnic-Russian region.

Voters are expected to support leaving Ukraine, but Crimean Tatars are boycotting the poll.

There are reports of a high turnout at polling stations visited by the BBC in the capital, Simferopol, and mainly Tartar Bakhchisaray. But all Tatars spoken to by the BBC in Bakhchisaray said they would not vote.