Ukraine rebel vote to go ahead

Pro-Russian activists in eastern Ukraine have said they will not postpone a referendum on independence planned for Sunday. The decision comes one day after Russian President Vladimir Putin urged delaying the vote to create the conditions necessary for dialogue. But Ukrainian authorities said "anti-terror" operations would continue regardless of the rebels' decision. Millions of ballot papers have been prepared for the vote. In what appeared to be a further shift in Russian policy, Mr Putin also said on Wednesday that this month's presidential elections in Ukraine were a move "in the right direction," according to BBC.