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| Ukraine unrest: Protesters in stand-off over EU deal | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Thousands of demonstrators are camped out in the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, preparing for fresh protests against President Viktor Yanukovych. | |
| Many spent the night in Independence Square while other activists were barricaded inside city hall. | |
| The unrest was triggered days ago by President Yanukovych's refusal to sign a deal on closer EU ties. | |
| Parliamentary speaker Vlodymyr Rybak said talks between the government and the opposition would be held on Monday. | |
| He said all sides would have an opportunity to express their opinions. | |
| Protesters stormed city hall on Sunday while a huge anti-government rally was taking place in the capital. | Protesters stormed city hall on Sunday while a huge anti-government rally was taking place in the capital. |
| Among them is Russian opposition activist Pyotr Verzilov - husband of jailed Pussy Riot member Nadezhda Tolokonnikova - who told the BBC that several hundred activists from Kiev and other parts of Ukraine were inside the building. | |
| "Activists have effectively turned the city hall into a sort of headquarters for the protests," he said. | |
| Between 100,000 and 500,000 took part in Sunday's rally, defying a ban imposed the day before. | |
| There were also clashes near the presidential building on Sunday. | There were also clashes near the presidential building on Sunday. |
| Masked demonstrators firing flares were driven back by riot police using tear gas, batons and stun grenades. | Masked demonstrators firing flares were driven back by riot police using tear gas, batons and stun grenades. |
| Dozens of protesters were injured and Kiev police said about 100 officers were wounded. | Dozens of protesters were injured and Kiev police said about 100 officers were wounded. |
| One group of protesters commandeered a bulldozer to try to break through police lines near President Yanukovych's headquarters. | One group of protesters commandeered a bulldozer to try to break through police lines near President Yanukovych's headquarters. |
| Opposition leaders have called for a national strike and street protests to demand that the government resign. | Opposition leaders have called for a national strike and street protests to demand that the government resign. |
| Picket planned | Picket planned |
| Meanwhile, tents have been put up in Independence Square as protesters prepare for round-the-clock demonstrations. | Meanwhile, tents have been put up in Independence Square as protesters prepare for round-the-clock demonstrations. |
| "I, as the head of the Supreme Council, guarantee that literally tomorrow such a round table will take place and all representatives in this process will have an opportunity to express their opinions," Mr Rybak told Ukrainian TV. | "I, as the head of the Supreme Council, guarantee that literally tomorrow such a round table will take place and all representatives in this process will have an opportunity to express their opinions," Mr Rybak told Ukrainian TV. |
| The parliament speaker said President Yanukovych was "on the side of the people who are fully entitled to assemble for peaceful demonstrations and to express their views". | The parliament speaker said President Yanukovych was "on the side of the people who are fully entitled to assemble for peaceful demonstrations and to express their views". |
| The leader of the opposition Fatherland party, Arseny Yatsenyuk, said the plan for Monday was to picket a meeting of the cabinet. He said a no-confidence motion had been submitted to parliament. | The leader of the opposition Fatherland party, Arseny Yatsenyuk, said the plan for Monday was to picket a meeting of the cabinet. He said a no-confidence motion had been submitted to parliament. |
| At city hall, members of the nationalist Svoboda party occupied the building and held meetings, Reuters reported. | At city hall, members of the nationalist Svoboda party occupied the building and held meetings, Reuters reported. |
| The protesters chanted "Kiev is ours" and hung a Ukrainian flag in the window. | The protesters chanted "Kiev is ours" and hung a Ukrainian flag in the window. |
| Opposition leader Vitali Klitschko - a former world boxing champion - urged supporters not to give up control of central Kiev overnight. | Opposition leader Vitali Klitschko - a former world boxing champion - urged supporters not to give up control of central Kiev overnight. |
| "We must mobilise everyone across the country and not lose the initiative," he said. | "We must mobilise everyone across the country and not lose the initiative," he said. |
| 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. | 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 argued that Ukraine could not afford to sacrifice trade with Russia, which opposed the deal. | Mr Yanukovych argued that Ukraine could not afford to sacrifice trade with Russia, which opposed the deal. |