Ukraine Is Approaching Point of No Return UN Warns

(MENAFN- Qatar News Agency) W york may 18 (qna) - ukraine is edging towards "the point of no return" a senior un official warned amid rising tensions between security forces and pro-russia separatists.

un assistant secretary-general for human rights ivan simonovic told the bbc that the crisis had worrying echoes of the 1990s war in his native croatia.

"what i'm really afraid is that country is approaching to a point of no return if there is no adequate and urgent action taken" he said.

reports from eastern ukraine say clashes between government forces and separatist militants have continued leaving dozens of people dead in the two sides.

the separatists have not taken part in eu-brokered talks to defuse the crisis.

on saturday they appointed alexandr borodai as a prime minister for what they call the people's republic of donetsk.

borodai said the self-proclaimed entity would apply to join russia.

the separatists have taken control of government buildings across cities in south-eastern and southern ukraine.

the un says it has documented countless incidents of abduction torture and murder in south and eastern ukraine.

simonovic said that he hoped the planned presidential election could take place but that it would be "extremely difficult".

"i firmly believe that there is a window of opportunity that should be used" he said but added that it was closing. (qna)