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Ukraine protests: Thousands march through capital | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Thousands of pro-Europe demonstrators are marching through the Ukrainian capital in protest at President Viktor Yanukovych's refusal to sign an EU trade deal. | |
Crowds gathered in a park before moving toward Kiev's Independence Square, in defiance of a court order banning rallies in the city centre. | |
They are demanding new elections, and the impeachment of the president. | They are demanding new elections, and the impeachment of the president. |
Police violently dispersed activists on Saturday, injuring dozens of people. | |
The president said he was "outraged" by the violence, but Ukraine's interior minister warned on Sunday that police would respond if there were mass disturbances. | |
The BBC's David Stern, in Kiev, says the latest action may be bigger than last weekend's demonstration, which attracted 50,000-100,000 supporters. | |
Jailed opposition leader and ex-Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko urged Ukrainians "not to leave the authorities' actions unanswered". | Jailed opposition leader and ex-Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko urged Ukrainians "not to leave the authorities' actions unanswered". |
In a message read by her daughter on Saturday, Tymoshenko urged Ukrainians: "Fly, drive, walk to Kiev from all parts of Ukraine, but gather everyone on 1 December." | In a message read by her daughter on Saturday, Tymoshenko urged Ukrainians: "Fly, drive, walk to Kiev from all parts of Ukraine, but gather everyone on 1 December." |
"We can and should remove these authorities," an opposition party leader Vitali Klitschko told thousands of demonstrators outside Kiev's St Michael's cathedral. | |
"We should come out and show that we will not allow them to humiliate us, we will stand up for our rights." | "We should come out and show that we will not allow them to humiliate us, we will stand up for our rights." |
He said that supporters were travelling from the western city of Lviv and other Ukrainian cities to take part in Sunday's rally. | He said that supporters were travelling from the western city of Lviv and other Ukrainian cities to take part in Sunday's rally. |
Hundreds of protesters occupied the square outside St Michael's cathedral overnight. | Hundreds of protesters occupied the square outside St Michael's cathedral overnight. |
Meanwhile, a court in Kiev has banned protested in Independence Square, European Square and at other locations in the city centre until 7 January 2014. | Meanwhile, a court in Kiev has banned protested in Independence Square, European Square and at other locations in the city centre until 7 January 2014. |
National strike | National strike |
The protests started more than a week ago after President Yanukovych suspended preparations for signing an EU association agreement that would have opened borders to goods and set the stage for an easing of travel restrictions. | The protests started more than a week ago after President Yanukovych suspended preparations for signing an EU association agreement that would have opened borders to goods and set the stage for an easing of travel restrictions. |
Mr Yanukovych said pressure from Moscow had led to his decision, arguing that Ukraine could not afford to sacrifice trade with Russia, which opposed the deal. | Mr Yanukovych said pressure from Moscow had led to his decision, arguing that Ukraine could not afford to sacrifice trade with Russia, which opposed the deal. |
Early on Saturday riot police stormed Independence Square beating protesters with truncheons. At least 31 people were taken into custody and a number of people were treated for injuries. | Early on Saturday riot police stormed Independence Square beating protesters with truncheons. At least 31 people were taken into custody and a number of people were treated for injuries. |
The president called for those responsible to be brought to account, but did not explicitly blame police. | The president called for those responsible to be brought to account, but did not explicitly blame police. |
Members of Ukraine's political opposition held emergency talks following the violence, and said a "national resistance" HQ would be set up, followed by a nationwide strike. | Members of Ukraine's political opposition held emergency talks following the violence, and said a "national resistance" HQ would be set up, followed by a nationwide strike. |
Independence Square was the scene of the Orange Revolution in 2004, which saw Mr Yanukovych ousted and a Western-leaning government brought to power. | Independence Square was the scene of the Orange Revolution in 2004, which saw Mr Yanukovych ousted and a Western-leaning government brought to power. |
Mr Yanukovych was elected president five years later, narrowly defeating then-Prime Minister Tymoshenko, a leading figure of the Orange Revolution. | Mr Yanukovych was elected president five years later, narrowly defeating then-Prime Minister Tymoshenko, a leading figure of the Orange Revolution. |
In 2011 she was sentenced to seven years in jail for abuse of office - a case widely criticised in the West as political revenge. | In 2011 she was sentenced to seven years in jail for abuse of office - a case widely criticised in the West as political revenge. |
Tymoshenko has been on hunger strike since Monday over the failure to sign the EU agreement. | Tymoshenko has been on hunger strike since Monday over the failure to sign the EU agreement. |