Crowds Let Off Fireworks In Jubilation In Crimea As 97 % Vote To Join Russia

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Crimea

Jubilant crowds let off fireworks (right), waved Russian flags (left) and celebrated in Lenin Square in the Crimean capital of Simferopol tonight after 95 per cent of voters backed leaving Ukraine and passing control of the region to Moscow. Final results showed 96.6 per cent of voters have backed passing control of the region from Kiev to Moscow. The result comes after Ukrainian prime minister Arseny Yatseniuk vowed to hunt down the ‘separatist leaders’ in Crimea, warning that the ‘ground will burn under their feet’. The EU and US are preparing to issue sanctions against Russian officials, saying they do not recognise the outcome of the ballot.