This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25173719
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| 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. |