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| Ukraine unrest: Protesters blockade government sites | Ukraine unrest: Protesters blockade government sites |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Demonstrators are blockading government buildings in the Ukrainian capital Kiev, as they step up their campaign for the resignation of the government. | Demonstrators are blockading government buildings in the Ukrainian capital Kiev, as they step up their campaign for the resignation of the government. |
| Protesters have put up barricades on Independence Square, while others are entrenched inside city hall. | Protesters have put up barricades on Independence Square, while others are entrenched inside city hall. |
| The unrest was triggered in November by President Viktor Yanukovych's refusal to sign a deal on closer EU ties. | The unrest was triggered in November by President Viktor Yanukovych's refusal to sign a deal on closer EU ties. |
| Opposition leaders have renewed demands that he stand down, and urged him to "stop political repression". | Opposition leaders have renewed demands that he stand down, and urged him to "stop political repression". |
| The call was issued on Monday at a meeting in Parliament convened by Speaker Volodymyr Rybak, the Ukrainska Pravda news website reported. | The call was issued on Monday at a meeting in Parliament convened by Speaker Volodymyr Rybak, the Ukrainska Pravda news website reported. |
| The opposition leaders refused to speak to Mr Rybak directly, the site added. | The opposition leaders refused to speak to Mr Rybak directly, the site added. |
| They also demanded the release of the jailed former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko - who has been convicted of abuse of power. | They also demanded the release of the jailed former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko - who has been convicted of abuse of power. |
| On Sunday Mr Rybak had said President Yanukovych was "on the side of the people who are fully entitled to assemble for peaceful demonstrations and to express their views". | On Sunday Mr Rybak had said President Yanukovych was "on the side of the people who are fully entitled to assemble for peaceful demonstrations and to express their views". |
| Overnight hundreds of people put up tents on Independence Square, amid calls for a general strike. | Overnight hundreds of people put up tents on Independence Square, amid calls for a general strike. |
| The headquarters of the cabinet has been blockaded, with government employees unable to reach work. | The headquarters of the cabinet has been blockaded, with government employees unable to reach work. |
| Police reinforcements are being sent to Kiev, Ukrainska Pravda reported. | Police reinforcements are being sent to Kiev, Ukrainska Pravda reported. |
| As thousands of protesters converged on Independence Square on Monday they chanted slogans including "Out with the gang!" | As thousands of protesters converged on Independence Square on Monday they chanted slogans including "Out with the gang!" |
| On Sunday, several hundred thousand people took part in a march, defying a ban on rallies. | On Sunday, several hundred thousand people took part in a march, defying a ban on rallies. |
| There were clashes near the presidential building, with demonstrators firing flares and riot police using tear gas, batons and stun grenades. TV footage appeared to show officers beating reporters. | There were clashes near the presidential building, with demonstrators firing flares and riot police using tear gas, batons and stun grenades. TV footage appeared to show officers beating reporters. |
| The main opposition leaders condemned the violence, saying it was the work of "provocateurs". There were also clashes on Sunday as Kiev protesters tried to topple a statue of Lenin. | The main opposition leaders condemned the violence, saying it was the work of "provocateurs". There were also clashes on Sunday as Kiev protesters tried to topple a statue of Lenin. |
| Some protesters stormed the city hall. One of them is the Russian opposition activist Pyotr Verzilov - husband of Pussy Riot punk group member Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, who is in jail in Russia. | Some protesters stormed the city hall. One of them is the Russian opposition activist Pyotr Verzilov - husband of Pussy Riot punk group member Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, who is in jail in Russia. |
| He told the BBC that the protesters were preparing to fight any attempt by police to evict them. | He told the BBC that the protesters were preparing to fight any attempt by police to evict them. |
| Also on Sunday, activists invaded Trade Unions House, another government building in central Kiev, and set up their main headquarters there. | Also on Sunday, activists invaded Trade Unions House, another government building in central Kiev, and set up their main headquarters there. |
| The leader of the opposition Fatherland party, Arseny Yatsenyuk, said a no-confidence motion had been submitted to parliament. | The leader of the opposition Fatherland party, Arseny Yatsenyuk, said a no-confidence motion had been submitted to parliament. |
| Another opposition leader, current WBC boxing champion Vitali Klitschko, urged supporters not to give up control of central Kiev. | |
| "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. |
| The deal was to be the centrepiece of a EU meeting in the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius last week. | The deal was to be the centrepiece of a EU meeting in the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius last week. |
| President Yanukovych defended his refusal to sign by saying the EU was not offering adequate financial aid to upgrade Ukraine's economy. | President Yanukovych defended his refusal to sign by saying the EU was not offering adequate financial aid to upgrade Ukraine's economy. |
| He also argued that Ukraine could not afford to sacrifice trade with Russia, which opposed the agreement. | |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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