American Flag Burnt in Sevastopol

27.01.2012 Participants of anti-American demonstration in Sevastopol burnt paper US national flag, reports Interfax. The protest action attended by 30 persons was associated with call of USS Vella Gulf at Sevastopol port.

Among protesters were representatives of Ukraine's Communist Party and Progressive Socialist Party of Ukraine, as well as activists of public organizations. According to New Region, most of picketers were elderly people, they met American ship clamoring "Yankees, get out of Sevastopol!"

They were holding posters "NATO stop" and "NATO - killer". Except for burnt paper American flag, the picketers had a real flag; they laid the flag on the pier and put a mock naval mine on it showing their attitude toward the visit of American warship to Sevastopol.

According to UNIAN, the crew of guided missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf is about to hold joint naval exercise with Ukrainian counterparts. Also, American guests will arrange a briefing for Ukrainian petty officers on board the ship. Locals of Sevastopol will be allowed to visit the cruiser and attend on-board tours. The visit of the American cruiser will last till Feb 1.

It is not the first time Sevastopol meets US warship with protest actions. Such pickets were held at the city port in 2008 during visits of USS Mount Whitney and USS Dallas, and in 2009 when USS Klakring called at the Sevastopol port.