DHAKA: Pro-Russian separatists ignored an ultimatum to leave occupied government buildings in eastern Ukraine and instead seized more buildings as Kiev failed to follow through on a threatened military crackdown.

The armed separatists on Tuesday remained in control of government offices in at least nine eastern towns Ukraine, and stormed a police station in Horlivka despite warnings from Kiev of a military response if they did not withdraw before 6am GMT on Monday.

In a telephone conversation late on Monday the US president, Barack Obama, urged his Russian counterpart Vlaimir Putin to press pro-Moscow groups to lay down their weapons and leave the seized buildings.

‘The president emphasised that all irregular forces in the country need to lay down their arms, and he urged Putin to use his influence with these armed, pro-Russian groups to convince them to depart the buildings they have seized,’ the White House said in a statement, reports Al Jazeera.

BDST: 1520 HRS, APR 15, 2014