Russia vows troops will stay in Ukraine

Russia has vowed its troops will remain in Ukraine to protect Russian interests and citizens until the political situation has been “normalised”.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia was defending human rights against “ultra-nationalist threats”.
Russia is now in de facto military control of the Crimea region, despite Western condemnation of a “violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty”.
Ukraine has ordered full mobilisation to counter the military intervention, according to news agencies.
Crimea is the main flashpoint, but there are also demonstrations in eastern Ukraine.
Some 2,000 people waving Russian flags gathered at the regional government building in Donesk to protest at the appointment of a new pro-Kiev governor.
Dozens later occupied the first floor of the building in Donesk, the hometown of ousted pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych.
Mr Lavrov said in Geneva Monday that Russian troops were needed in Ukraine “until the normalisation of the political situation”.
Mr Lavrov said: “The victors intend to make use of the fruits of their victory to attack human rights and fundamental freedoms of minorities.”
He said the “violence of ultra-nationalists threatens the lives and the regional interests of Russians and the Russian speaking population”.
Mr Lavrov, who will meet UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in Geneva later, also condemned Western threats of sanctions and boycotts.
In Kiev, Ukraine’s Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said that any attempt to seize Crimea would fail.
Two large Ukrainian military bases are surrounded and key installations like airports are occupied.
Thousands of newly arrived Russian elite troops far outnumber Ukraine’s military presence, our correspondent says, with roadblocks cutting off Crimea.