Deadly clashes break out in Mariupol ahead of referendum

WARNING-STORY CONTAINS GRAPHIC IMAGES

A deadly day in eastern Ukraine.

Amateur video appears to show crowds in Mariupol where several people have reportedly been killed.

Fighting there has been ongoing ahead of Sunday's referendum.

Reuters cannot independently verify the video, which was obtained from a social media website.

At the police headquarters, smoke rises from intense fighting between pro-Russian militants and Ukrainian forces.

Ukraine's interior minister said about 20 "terrorists" were killed.

Elsewhere, more amateur video showed an intense standoff between a Ukrainian tank and local residents.

One journalist said Ukrainian forces brought several armed vehicles into the city.

Mariupol is a major industrial and shipping center with a half a million residents.