Eastern Ukraine's referendums for independence 'nothing more than propaganda,' says Ukrainian president

KIEV, Ukraine, May 12 (UPI) -- The Ukrainian central government said Monday it rejects the referendums undertaken Sunday in the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk that asserted a preference for self-rule.

Ukraine's acting President Oleksandr Turchynov decried the referendum as "propaganda."

"The farce that terrorists and separatists call a referendum is nothing more than a propaganda covering of murders, kidnappings, violence and other serious crimes...

"This propaganda farce will not have any legal consequences except for the prosecution of its organizers."

The newly claimed Donetsk People's Republic election commission reported 89 percent of voters favor self-rule and 10 percent opposed, with 75 percent voter turnout. The Luhansk election commission said 96.2 percent favor self-rule.