Insurgents in eastern Ukraine declare independence

DONETSK — Pro-Russia insurgents have declared independence for the Luhansk region in eastern Ukraine.

They read out the declaration at a rally yesterday in the city of Luhansk after insurgents said 96 percent voted Sunday for the region's independence.

The announcement came only an hour after separatists in the neighboring Donetsk region declared independence and also asked to join Russia.

Both regions held a hastily arranged vote on separatism Sunday that Ukraine's government and its western allies said violated international law.