Ukraine issues arrest warrant on ousted president Viktor Yanukovych

Ukraine has issued a warrant for the arrest of fugitive ousted president Viktor Yanukovych, according to an announcement by the interim interior minister Arsen Avakov.

In a Facebook post Avakov said a criminal case had been opened against Yanukovych and other officials over "mass murder of peaceful citizens".

MPs voted for the removal of Yanukovych on Saturday following months of deadly protest triggered by his rejection of an EU deal.

Meanwhile, Russia's PM, Dmitry Medvedev said he doubted the legitimacy of the country's new leaders.

Russian media quoted Medvedev as saying, Russia did not understand what was going on there. He added, there was a real threat to Russian interest and to the lives of its citizens.

He said there were big doubts about the legitimacy of a whole series of organs of power that were now functioning there.

Voicing anger at the loss of its political ally, Russia accused the opposition of seizing power and has also recalled its ambassador for consultation.

According to newly appointed interim president Olexander Turchynov, Ukraine wanted to establish relations with Russia on an equal and good-neighbourly footing that recognised and took into account Ukraine's European choice.

Meanwhile, Yanukovych, is said to be hiding in the pro-Russian Crimean peninsula.

Clashes in the capital, Kiev, last week left at least 82 people dead, mostly protesters.

After he signed an agreement with the opposition, Yanukovych fled Kiev for eastern Ukraine. Yanukovych appeared in a video address on Saturday evening claiming he continued to be the president. However he had lost the support of most of his party and his main goal now would now probably be to flee the country without being arrested, according to commentators.

According to Avakhov, Yanukovych arrived in Crimea on Sunday, let his official security detail go and then drove off to an unknown location. Rumour had it that there was a yacht named the Bandido, believed to belong to Yanukovych's son, that was spotted in the harbour in the Crimean port of Balaclava.

In Balaclava, today, neither the yatch nor the president were seen and, according to locals, they had not seen Yanukovych in recent days.

Meanwhile, in Ukraine, demands are being voiced to put Yanukovych on trial after a tumultuous presidency, which saw him amass power, enrich his allies and crack down on demonstrators. Anger flared last week following sniper attacks on protesters in the bloodiest violence in the country's post-Soviet history.