DHAKA: More than 60 people arrested over Friday's violence in the Ukrainian port city of Odessa have been freed by police after protesters attacked the main police station.

Several hundred pro-Russian protesters besieged the police headquarters, breaking through windows and doors.

The clashes on Friday left more than 40 dead, mostly pro-Russian separatists killed in a building fire.

Ukraine's interim PM has accused police of failing to prevent Friday's unrest, reports the BBC.

The mood has hardened in the towns around Sloviansk. Many people are horrified by Friday's deaths of dozens of pro-Russian activists in Odessa, something that they say "cannot be forgiven".

But even in this Russian-speaking heartland, there are occasional signs of support for a united Ukraine: the odd blue and yellow national flag poking from a window, or those colours painted onto a lamppost. But the overwhelming mood is defiance and anger at Kiev for sending troops here.

Outside the police station-turned rebel HQ in Konstantinovka men were making Molotov cocktails in beer bottles. Locals brought carrier bags full of food, for those inside. And a crowd gathered, demanding to know how they could defend their town, asking for weapons. There are a lot more barricades than when the Ukrainian military operation began. The pro-Russian groups want to slow the advance of any troops - even if they can't stop them.

Arseniy Yatsenyuk has ordered a full investigation, and said the violence was "part of a plan fomented by Russia to destroy Ukraine".

"Russia's aim was to repeat in Odessa what is happening in the east of the country," he said.

Ukrainian troops are carrying out operations in the east to wrest control of government buildings from pro-Russia separatists.

The troops have encircled Sloviansk, where pro-Russians appear to control the centre.

But Mr Yatsenyuk insisted Kiev had not lost control entirely.

He said much would depend on whether local populations "support peace and stability or whether they support those who are sponsored by Russian

BDST:  0945 HRS, MAY 05 , 2014