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| Ukrainians Back in Street To Support E.U. Accord | Ukrainians Back in Street To Support E.U. Accord |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| KIEV, Ukraine — After the police violently dispersed several hundred protesters in the center of this roiled capital early Saturday, thousands more took to the streets to denounce President Viktor F. Yanukovich’s refusal to sign far-reaching political and free-trade accords with the European Union. | KIEV, Ukraine — After the police violently dispersed several hundred protesters in the center of this roiled capital early Saturday, thousands more took to the streets to denounce President Viktor F. Yanukovich’s refusal to sign far-reaching political and free-trade accords with the European Union. |
| Waving blue-and-yellow Ukrainian flags and the flag of Europe, demonstrators swirled in a huge mass on the cobblestone streets outside the centuries-old St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery. | Waving blue-and-yellow Ukrainian flags and the flag of Europe, demonstrators swirled in a huge mass on the cobblestone streets outside the centuries-old St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery. |
| Furious over the failed agreements and enraged by what they said was excessive brutality of the police, protesters shouted, “Kiev rise up!” and “Glory to Ukraine! Glory to her heroes!” | Furious over the failed agreements and enraged by what they said was excessive brutality of the police, protesters shouted, “Kiev rise up!” and “Glory to Ukraine! Glory to her heroes!” |
| Riot police officers, swinging truncheons and spraying bursts of tear gas, forcibly broke up the crowd in Independence Square, which had been the main protest site for more than a week. | Riot police officers, swinging truncheons and spraying bursts of tear gas, forcibly broke up the crowd in Independence Square, which had been the main protest site for more than a week. |
| A crowd of about 10,000 people had gathered there Friday night as the European Union summit meeting in Vilnius, Lithuania, where Mr. Yanukovich had originally planned to sign the agreements, was drawing to a close. | A crowd of about 10,000 people had gathered there Friday night as the European Union summit meeting in Vilnius, Lithuania, where Mr. Yanukovich had originally planned to sign the agreements, was drawing to a close. |
| Several hundred protesters chanting for Mr. Yanukovich’s resignation were still gathered there when the police moved in about 4:30 a.m., according to local news accounts and videos posted online by witnesses. | |
| At least three dozen people were beaten, said Roman Sharan, 21, a veterinary student who was in the crowd and had a deep red welt on his knee from being hit with a truncheon. Mr. Sharan said the violence had been unprovoked, with the police warning protesters to leave, then viciously beating them. He said he was knocked to the ground and kicked in the head before being thrown into a detention vehicle with others. | |
| Some of the demonstrators ran from the police and took refuge inside the ornate monastery. A group remained inside the monastery through Saturday evening as a large crowd formed outside. | |
| The violent dispersal immediately inflamed an already volatile situation in which protesters have been gathering daily in Kiev and in cities across the country to denounce Mr. Yanukovich for backing away, under pressure from Russia, from the accords with Europe. It also threatened to widen Ukraine’s political rift with the West, which was on open display at the summit meeting. | |
| The Kiev metropolitan police said that at least 35 people were arrested, on various charges of hooliganism and resisting law enforcement authorities, and were released with administrative summonses. | The Kiev metropolitan police said that at least 35 people were arrested, on various charges of hooliganism and resisting law enforcement authorities, and were released with administrative summonses. |
| A police statement said that the enforcement action began after protesters “threw garbage, cups, water bottles and set sticks on fire,” and that officers were asked to clear the square because protesters were in the way of workers trying to install holiday decorations. | A police statement said that the enforcement action began after protesters “threw garbage, cups, water bottles and set sticks on fire,” and that officers were asked to clear the square because protesters were in the way of workers trying to install holiday decorations. |
| Mr. Yanukovich issued a statement on Saturday evening disavowing the violence and promising to hold the police accountable. “Several days ago in front of the whole country I declared my support for civic, nonviolent actions,” he said. “Those who didn’t listen to the words of the Constitution and the president and provoked conflict will be punished.” | |
| The United States Embassy in Kiev issued a statement on Saturday censuring the use of force, and urging the Ukrainian government to respect the rights of demonstrators. | The United States Embassy in Kiev issued a statement on Saturday censuring the use of force, and urging the Ukrainian government to respect the rights of demonstrators. |
| “The United States condemns the violence against protesters on Independence Square early this morning,” the embassy said. “We urge the government of Ukraine to respect the rights of civil society and the principles of freedom of speech and freedom of assembly.” | “The United States condemns the violence against protesters on Independence Square early this morning,” the embassy said. “We urge the government of Ukraine to respect the rights of civil society and the principles of freedom of speech and freedom of assembly.” |
| In Washington, the State Department spokeswoman, Jen Psaki, issued a similar statement. | In Washington, the State Department spokeswoman, Jen Psaki, issued a similar statement. |
| “Violence and intimidation should have no place in today’s Ukraine,” she said. | “Violence and intimidation should have no place in today’s Ukraine,” she said. |
| Senior European Union officials also issued a forceful statement, condemning the violence. | Senior European Union officials also issued a forceful statement, condemning the violence. |
| Secretary of State John Kerry has canceled plans to attend a meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which is to be held here this week, but other Western officials are already arriving, and the criticism was certain to intensify. | Secretary of State John Kerry has canceled plans to attend a meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which is to be held here this week, but other Western officials are already arriving, and the criticism was certain to intensify. |