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Ukraine unrest: Protesters in stand-off over EU deal | Ukraine unrest: Protesters in stand-off over EU deal |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Demonstrators are blockading Ukrainian government buildings in Kiev, as they prepare for fresh protests demanding the resignation of the government. | |
Hundreds of activists spent the night in Independence Square while others were barricaded inside city hall. | |
The unrest was triggered in November by President Viktor 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. | 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. | He said all sides would have an opportunity to express their opinions. |
About 1,000 protesters camped out on Independence Square overnight, as activists prepare for round-the-clock demonstrations. | |
The protesters are blocking off the government's main headquarters. Opposition leaders have called for a national strike and fresh street protests. | |
On Sunday between 100,000 and 500,000 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. | |
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: "Activists have effectively turned the city hall into a sort of headquarters for the protests." | |
Picket planned | Picket planned |
On Sunday 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." | |
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. |
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. | |
He also argued that Ukraine could not afford to sacrifice trade with Russia, which opposed the agreement. |