Airport in Ukraine`s Crimea cancels all except Moscow flights

Kiev: The main airport in Ukraine`s Crimea on Tuesday cancelled incoming flights from the capital Kiev but allowed several planes from Moscow to land, five days before a referendum called to join the Black Sea region to Russia.

A Ukrainian airline plane was turned back on its way from Kiev to Simferopol, the region`s main city, and returned to the capital. Airport passenger information also showed an incoming flight from Istanbul, Turkey, had been cancelled. But several flights came in from Moscow. Armed pro-Russia groups have taken over control of the airport but until now had been allowing it to function normally for passenger traffic. Tension has increased in the region before Sunday`s referendum which pro-Russian leaders, backed by Russian forces, have called despite it being denounced as illegal by Ukraine`s new rulers and Western governments.