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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Ukraine protests: Opposition prepares confidence vote | Ukraine protests: Opposition prepares confidence vote |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Thousands of Ukrainian protesters remain outside parliament in Kiev, as the opposition prepares to hold a vote of no confidence in the government. | Thousands of Ukrainian protesters remain outside parliament in Kiev, as the opposition prepares to hold a vote of no confidence in the government. |
| Correspondents say the opposition is unlikely to win the vote, but wants to maintain pressure on the government. | Correspondents say the opposition is unlikely to win the vote, but wants to maintain pressure on the government. |
| Mass protests were sparked by the government's decision not to sign an association deal with the EU last week. | Mass protests were sparked by the government's decision not to sign an association deal with the EU last week. |
| Ukraine's Prime Minister, Mykola Azarov has said he sees "all the signs of a coup" as protests intensify. | Ukraine's Prime Minister, Mykola Azarov has said he sees "all the signs of a coup" as protests intensify. |
| He said the government was aware of plans to seize the parliament building. | He said the government was aware of plans to seize the parliament building. |
| Demonstrators are demanding the resignation of Mr Azarov and President Viktor Yanukovych, and have called for a general strike. | Demonstrators are demanding the resignation of Mr Azarov and President Viktor Yanukovych, and have called for a general strike. |
| Mr Yanukovych has warned that the rallies should only be peaceful after violence at the weekend, and said he was going ahead with a planned visit to China. | Mr Yanukovych has warned that the rallies should only be peaceful after violence at the weekend, and said he was going ahead with a planned visit to China. |
| In another development, on Monday Mr Yanukovych asked the European Commission to allow him to send a delegation for talks on "some aspects" of the EU association agreement that Ukraine had been expected to sign, officials in Brussels said. | In another development, on Monday Mr Yanukovych asked the European Commission to allow him to send a delegation for talks on "some aspects" of the EU association agreement that Ukraine had been expected to sign, officials in Brussels said. |
| Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso agreed to the request, but stressed the Commission was ready to discuss implementation of accords already initialled, "but not to reopen any kind of negotiations". | Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso agreed to the request, but stressed the Commission was ready to discuss implementation of accords already initialled, "but not to reopen any kind of negotiations". |
| Opposition leaders have renewed demands that Mr Yanukovych stand down, and urged him to "stop political repression". | Opposition leaders have renewed demands that Mr Yanukovych stand down, and urged him to "stop political repression". |
| The protests began just over a week ago after a halt was ordered to preparations to sign a deal on closer integration with the EU. | The protests began just over a week ago after a halt was ordered to preparations to sign a deal on closer integration with the EU. |
| 'Out with the gang!' | 'Out with the gang!' |
| Hundreds of people put up tents on Independence Square on Sunday night, after a mass rally that drew hundreds of thousands, amid calls for a general strike. | Hundreds of people put up tents on Independence Square on Sunday night, after a mass rally that drew hundreds of thousands, 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, the newspaper Ukrainska Pravda reported. | Police reinforcements are being sent to Kiev, the newspaper 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!" |
| Prime Minister Azarov, quoted by Interfax news agency, said the political opposition in Ukraine had the "illusion" that it could overthrow the existing order. | Prime Minister Azarov, quoted by Interfax news agency, said the political opposition in Ukraine had the "illusion" that it could overthrow the existing order. |
| "We know that a plan is being prepared to seize the parliament," he said. | "We know that a plan is being prepared to seize the parliament," he said. |
| Speaking during a meeting, Mr Azarov told Western ambassadors on Monday: "This has all the signs of a coup... | Speaking during a meeting, Mr Azarov told Western ambassadors on Monday: "This has all the signs of a coup... |
| "That is very serious. We are patient, but we want our partners not to feel that everything is permitted." | "That is very serious. We are patient, but we want our partners not to feel that everything is permitted." |
| Later on Monday, the US weighed in to dispute Mr Azarov's interpretation. | Later on Monday, the US weighed in to dispute Mr Azarov's interpretation. |
| "We certainly don't consider peaceful demonstrations coup attempts," a White House spokesman said. | "We certainly don't consider peaceful demonstrations coup attempts," a White House spokesman said. |
| Jay Carney added that while violence by the authorities against demonstrators on Saturday had been "unacceptable", the police had in general been more restrained since. | Jay Carney added that while violence by the authorities against demonstrators on Saturday had been "unacceptable", the police had in general been more restrained since. |
| 'Bad peace' | 'Bad peace' |
| For his part, President Yanukovych urged police and demonstrators to observe the law. | For his part, President Yanukovych urged police and demonstrators to observe the law. |
| "Any bad peace is better than a good war," Mr Yanukovych said in a TV interview reported by his own website - his first comments on Sunday's violence. | "Any bad peace is better than a good war," Mr Yanukovych said in a TV interview reported by his own website - his first comments on Sunday's violence. |
| President Vladimir Putin of neighbouring Russia said events in Ukraine seemed "more like a rampage than a revolution." | |
| Mr Putin blamed "outside actors" for the protests, which he said were an attempt to unsettle Ukraine's "legitimate" rulers. | Mr Putin blamed "outside actors" for the protests, which he said were an attempt to unsettle Ukraine's "legitimate" rulers. |
| 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. |