KIEV (Reuters) - Ukraine’s interim president said on Monday that the Kiev leadership was “not against” a referendum being held on the type of state Ukraine should be and added he was sure it would confirm the wish of the majority for a united, independent country.

The holding of a referendum has been one of the demands of separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine.

Oleksander Turchinov, in televised remarks to a parliamentary committee, added that such a poll could be held at the same time as a presidential election on May 25.

He added that an anti-terrorist operation involving the army would begin in eastern Ukraine, unless rebels laid down their arms, and that the Donbass region “will soon be stabilized”.