Several wounded as pro-Moscow militants attack Ukraine rally

Several people were wounded today when pro-Russian militants swinging baseball bats and iron bars attacked a rally in the east Ukrainian city of Donetsk marching for national unity.

Those hurt in the bloody assault were taken by ambulance to hospitals in Donetsk, one of a dozen cities where pro-Kremlin separatists have taken over public buildings and reject Kiev's authority.

Several European journalists at the scene tweeted that they, too, were targeted by the pro-Russian group and had to run. They said Ukrainian riot police stood by and did nothing to stop the violence.

Russian state media reported the violence as a clash between pro-Russian "self defence groups" and pro-Kiev "ultra-nationalists".
 

The brutality added to spreading unrest in east Ukraine, which the US and EU accuse Russia of fomenting to destabilise Kiev's Western-backed government.