DHAKA: Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko urged the United Nations to label rebels fighting Ukrainian forces in the eastern regions of Luhansk and Donetsk as belonging to ‘terrorist organisations’.

During a telephone conversation with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Poroshenko’s press service quoted the leader.

Poroshenko said, ‘The president of Ukraine urged the U.N. to condemn the actions of terrorists and to recognise the so-called ‘DNR’ (Donetsk People’s Republic) and ‘LNR’ (Luhansk People’s Republic) as terrorist organisations’.

BDST: 1603 HRS, JUL 20, 2014