It was no warm welcome in Crimea for a delegation from the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe.

(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) SIMFEROPOL RESIDENT, RAISA IVANOVNA, SAYING:

'We are here to tell the OSCE that we are against any interference in the affairs of our state. Crimea does not want to split from Ukraine. We don't want to split, or be separate. Crimea wants to be part of Ukraine but like an autonomous republic of Crimea with broader rights. We want to rule ourselves and we support Crimean authorities"

Observers from a pan-European security body traveled to the Crimea region on the invitation of the Ukrainian government Tuesday in an attempt to defuse a military standoff.

The OSCE representative for freedom of the media is worried by reports of attacks on the media

(SOUNDBITE) (English) DUNJA MIJATOVIC, OSCE REPRESENTATIVE FOR FREEDOM OF THE MEDIA, SAYING:

"There are very worrying signs, but I think we have time to make sure that we preser