DONETSK, May 20. /ITAR-TASS/. Leaders of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DNR) say they have suspended talks with businessman Rinat Akhmetov.

"No more talks with Akhmetov. If he makes attempts at provocations, our republic has several variants to respond to them," the head of the region's Supreme Council, Denis Pushilin, told ITAR-TASS on Tuesday.

Pushilin was responding to Akhmetov's declaration on May 19 urging workers of companies under his control to strike, and expressing his opposition to the local movement.

The movement's co-chairman, Miroslav Rudenko, said: "Akhmetov's statement is not consonant with the opinion of Donetsk region's people. He sets himself against public opinion which does not enhance positive feelings towards him."

At a May 11 referendum, region residents voted to support the Donetsk People's Republic, he added.

Pushilin announced earlier that the movement's leadership had decided to begin a process of nationalisation. This responded to unwillingness by local "oligarchs" to pay taxes to the DNR budget.