Ukraine interim leaders warn of 'unpopular steps' ahead

Ukraine's PM-designate Arseniy Yatsenyuk has warned of the need for 'unpopular steps' to bring the country back from the 'brink of disaster'.

He told the BBC the central challenge for the new government - unveiled at Kiev's main protest camp on Wednesday - was to 'stabilise' the country.

Ukrainian MPs are expected to vote later on the new cabinet line up.

US Secretary of State John Kerry has warned Russia any military intervention in Ukraine would be a 'grave mistake'.

His comment came after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a snap drill to test the combat readiness of troops in central and western Russia, near the border with Ukraine.

Fears over economy

Mr Yatsenyuk and Ukraine's other new ministers were presented to a large crowd at Kiev's Independence Square, the Maidan, on Wednesday evening.

Mr Yatsenyuk, who was one of the main protest leaders, was greeted with cheers.

But the announcement of some other heads of ministries, including Interior Minister Arsen Avakov, prompted booing from the crowd, who said the candidates were not worthy of government posts.

Other ministers include career diplomat Andriy Deschytsya as foreign minister, a former deputy head of the central bank Oleksander Shlapak as finance minister and Andriy Paruby as secretary of the National Security and Defence Council.

'We are to undertake extremely unpopular steps as the previous government and previous president were so corrupted that the country is in a desperate financial plight,' Mr Yatsenyuk told the BBC after the cabinet was announced.

'We are on the brink of a disaster and this is the government of political suiciders. So welcome to hell,' he added.

The 39-year-old, who is a former speaker of parliament and foreign minister, is expected to lead the cabinet until early presidential elections on 25 May.

Acting government officials have already predicted the country needs $35bn (£21bn) in bailout loans to get through the next two years.

On Wednesday, the US said it was considering offering Ukraine's struggling economy - which faces default - loan guarantees of up to $1bn.

Meanwhile, Mr Yanukovych has been put on the international wanted list.

The fugitive former president - whose whereabouts are unclear - is accused of being behind last week's deaths of more than 100 protesters at the hands of riot police in and around the Maidan.

Tensions have boiled over into the capital of Ukraine's Crimea region, Simferopol, with clashes erupting between Ukrainians who support the change of government and pro-Russians.

An elderly man died from a suspected heart attack after scuffles between members of a pro-Russian rally and a second rally involving Crimean Tatars and supporters of the new government on Wednesday.

Crimea - where ethnic Russians are in a majority - was transferred from Russia to Ukraine in 1954.

Russia, along with the US, UK and France, pledged to uphold the territorial integrity of Ukraine in a memorandum signed in 1994.

Unrest in Ukraine first erupted in November, following Mr Yanukovych's last-minute decision to reject a landmark association and trade deal with the European Union in favour of Russia's bailout offer.

Yanukovych's flight from Kiev 21 Feb: leaves Kiev for Kharkiv on helicopter; stays overnight in state residence 22 Feb: flies by helicopter to Donetsk airport; tries to leave on private jet but stopped by border guards; leaves by car for Crimea 23 Feb: arrives in Balaklava, Crimea, and stays briefly in a private spa before making aborted attempt to reach Belbek airport Dismisses most of his security detail; leaves Balaklava in a three-car convoy with some guards and presidential administration head Andriy Kliuyev Source: Acting Interior Minister Arsen Avakov Are you in Ukraine? What is your reaction to the recent events? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.ukRead the terms and conditions adding 'Ukraine' in the subject heading and including your contact details.

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