Tensions flared in the southern Ukrainian region of Crimea as several thousand demonstrators pushing for a referendum on joining Russia clashed with members of the Tatar ethnic minority. Flag-waving protesters from both sides faced off today outside of the local parliament building in Simferopol, the regional capital. Lawmakers canceled an emergency session that had been called to discuss whether to support the plebiscite, which assembly spokeswoman Lyudmila Mokhova said would have been symbolic, rather than binding. Divisions between the Ukrainian-speaking west and center and the pro-Russia east and south are ... (full story)