Ukraine crisis: Rebels order UN agencies to leave

The UN humanitarian aid chief has expressed alarm after UN agencies were ordered out of rebel-held parts of the Luhansk region in eastern Ukraine.

Stephen O'Brien said the agencies had been told to leave by Friday, and several international non-governmental organisations (NGO) by Saturday.

The Luhansk separatists had earlier banned 10 international humanitarian agencies citing "violations".

Pro-Russian rebels seized parts of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions last year.

Almost 8,000 people have been killed since fighting erupted in eastern Ukraine in April 2014, a month after Russia annexed the southern Crimea peninsula.

'Psychotropic medication'

In a statement, Mr O'Brien said the "de facto authorities" in Luhansk had ordered the UN agencies and NGOs to leave the area.

He also said all UN agency operations had been suspended in the rebel-held parts of Donetsk.

Mr O'Brien urged the separatists in "both Luh