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Clashes as police try to dislodge Kiev protesters Kiev riot police retreat after storming protest bastions
(about 2 hours later)
Clashes have erupted outside city hall in the Ukrainian capital Kiev as police try to oust occupying protesters. Hundreds of anti-government protesters inside city hall in the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, have pushed back riot police trying to dislodge them.
The clashes follow a night of scuffles and a stand-off after police moved in on a large protest camp in Independence Square. Clashes erupted hours after riot police moved in to clear protesters from nearby Independence Square - prompting the US to express "disgust".
But more demonstrators have joined the protest in response to an opposition call for solidarity. The interior minister has now given assurances no force will be used.
The government's decision to withdraw from a free-trade deal with the EU last month sparked huge street rallies. The protests were sparked by the government's refusal to sign a deal on closer ties with the European Union.
The U-turn followed pressure from Russia, which has said Ukraine's free trade deal with the EU will flood the Russian market.
Human wallsHuman walls
Police stormed city hall as they tried to dislodge protesters from the building. Police have now withdrawn from city hall following their abortive attempt to oust occupying protesters, said the BBC's David Stern at the scene.
Reports said protesters used hoses to fire icy water back at the police. Protesters used hoses to fire icy water at the police, said reports, and events were carried live on local television.
Protesters gathered around the police, chanting slogans against their action, said 5 Kanal TV station in scenes carried on a live feed from the protests. Protesters also announced that the police had pulled back from the main camp in Independence Square, which they moved on in the early hours of Wednesday.
Police had moved in on the protest at about 02:00 (24:00 GMT), saying they wanted to free up a passage through the square for traffic. "I want everyone to calm down," said Interior Minister Vitali Zakharchenko in a statement.
"There will be no storming of the square. No one will violate your rights to protest peacefully, but do not ignore the rights... of other citizens."
Overnight, riot police and interior ministry officers had dismantled some barriers and tents, with police saying they were trying to free up a passage through the square for traffic.
Protesters in hard hats locked arms to form human walls to try to resist the police push. At least nine people were detained.Protesters in hard hats locked arms to form human walls to try to resist the police push. At least nine people were detained.
There were calls for restraint from priests intoning prayers and pop singer Ruslana - urging "Do not hurt us!" - on a stage in the square. More people flooded into the square in response to pleas for solidarity. There were some reports of police using violence - with the KyivPost saying it had witnessed police clubbing protesters.
The latest police action comes after EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton held talks with President Viktor Yanukovych on Tuesday. There were calls for restraint from priests intoning prayers and pop singer Ruslana - urging "Do not hurt us!" - on a stage in the square. More people flooded into the square in response to pleas for solidarity, and are still streaming into the square.
Baroness Ashton, who was cheered by crowds when she visited Kiev's main protest site, said she was saddened that police had later used force to try to remove protesters. Opposition leader Arseniy Yatsenyuk said President Viktor Yanukovych "has spat in the face of America, EU countries and 46 millions of Ukrainians and we will not forgive that".
"I was among you on Maidan [Independence Square] in the evening and was impressed by determination of Ukrainians demonstrating for European perspective of the country," she said in a statement posted on Facebook. He demanded the president's resignation.
"Some hours later I observe with sadness that police uses force to remove peaceful people from the centre of Kiev. The authorities didn't need to act under the coverage of night to engage with the society by using police." US Secretary of State John Kerry condemned the authorities' move on the protests.
Riot police and interior ministry officers dismantled some barriers and tents but met resistance from opposition supporters.
US Secretary of State John Kerry also condemned the action late on Tuesday.
"The United States expresses its disgust with the decision of Ukrainian authorities to meet the peaceful protest in Kiev's Maidan Square with riot police, bulldozers, and batons, rather than with respect for democratic rights and human dignity," he said."The United States expresses its disgust with the decision of Ukrainian authorities to meet the peaceful protest in Kiev's Maidan Square with riot police, bulldozers, and batons, rather than with respect for democratic rights and human dignity," he said.
"This response is neither acceptable nor does it befit a democracy.""This response is neither acceptable nor does it befit a democracy."
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton is also in Kiev, and held talks with President Viktor Yanukovych on Tuesday.
Baroness Ashton, who was cheered by crowds when she visited Kiev's main protest site on Tuesday, said she was saddened that police had later used force to try to remove protesters.
US Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland is also in Kiev, and expected to hold talks with President Yanukovych.
Interfax news agency reported that Ms Nuland had visited Independence Square on Wednesday morning, handing out bread, biscuits and buns from a plastic bag.
President Yanukovych said on Monday that government officials could visit Brussels this week to resume talks on the EU association agreement.President Yanukovych said on Monday that government officials could visit Brussels this week to resume talks on the EU association agreement.
His statement came after hundreds of thousands of protesters turned out in Kiev on Sunday, demanding the resignation of the government within 48 hours.His statement came after hundreds of thousands of protesters turned out in Kiev on Sunday, demanding the resignation of the government within 48 hours.
Several people were hurt on Monday night as riot police advanced on protesters, dismantling a number of barricades in the centre of the capital. Government buildings were blockaded with cars, barricades and tents.
Government buildings are blockaded with cars, barricades and tents.