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Ukraine crisis: Clashes after thousands defy protest ban Ukraine crisis: Clashes after thousands defy protest ban
(about 2 hours later)
Clashes have been taking place after large crowds of pro-EU demonstrators rallied in Ukraine's capital against new laws restricting public protests.Clashes have been taking place after large crowds of pro-EU demonstrators rallied in Ukraine's capital against new laws restricting public protests.
Stun grenades and flares were thrown as groups of people tried to get to the parliament, their way blocked by rows of police and buses. Stun grenades and flares were thrown as protesters tried to reach parliament, their way blocked by rows of police and buses.
The US appealed for an end to the violence, urging the government to hold talks to resolve the situation.
Opposition politician Vitali Klitschko tried to stop attacks on police.Opposition politician Vitali Klitschko tried to stop attacks on police.
The laws were passed with a quick show of hands on Thursday by MPs loyal to President Viktor Yanukovych. His spokeswoman later said the former world boxing champion had gone for emergency talks with President Viktor Yanukovych at the latter's residence outside Kiev.
The new legislation was passed with a quick show of hands on Thursday by MPs loyal to the president, who then signed it into law.
The opposition accused the ruling party of a coup.The opposition accused the ruling party of a coup.
US and EU officials have expressed deep concern at the new legislation.US and EU officials have expressed deep concern at the new legislation.
Ukraine's current anti-government movement began in protest at Mr Yanukovych's decision in late November to pull out of a landmark treaty with the EU, but has expanded to demand his resignation.Ukraine's current anti-government movement began in protest at Mr Yanukovych's decision in late November to pull out of a landmark treaty with the EU, but has expanded to demand his resignation.
'Extremists and provocateurs''Extremists and provocateurs'
Sunday's rally in Kiev, attended by tens of thousands, heard calls from opposition politicians to disregard the new laws curbing protests that pro-EU demonstrators have been staging for the past two months.Sunday's rally in Kiev, attended by tens of thousands, heard calls from opposition politicians to disregard the new laws curbing protests that pro-EU demonstrators have been staging for the past two months.
Clashes erupted as some people headed away from the main square towards parliament, to vent their anger over the new laws. They ran into police cordons.Clashes erupted as some people headed away from the main square towards parliament, to vent their anger over the new laws. They ran into police cordons.
They pelted police with flares, thunder flashes and petrol bombs, the BBC's Daniel Sandford in Kiev reports.They pelted police with flares, thunder flashes and petrol bombs, the BBC's Daniel Sandford in Kiev reports.
They overturned a bus used by police and set it alight. Other vehicles were also set on fire. One vehicle was pushed towards the police lines.They overturned a bus used by police and set it alight. Other vehicles were also set on fire. One vehicle was pushed towards the police lines.
Police could be seen behind buses sheltering under their riot shields, and occasionally throwing their own thunder flashes and gas canisters to try to force the crowd back, our correspondent says.Police could be seen behind buses sheltering under their riot shields, and occasionally throwing their own thunder flashes and gas canisters to try to force the crowd back, our correspondent says.
The stand-off was continuing after darkness fell. Hours after darkness fell, the stand-off was continuing on Hrushevskyy Street, some 100m from Independence Square.
Police also used water cannon to try to disperse the demonstrators.
Interior ministry spokesman Serhiy Burlakov blamed "provocateurs and extremists" for the confrontations and urged people not to follow their lead.Interior ministry spokesman Serhiy Burlakov blamed "provocateurs and extremists" for the confrontations and urged people not to follow their lead.
Police were filming everything and had opened criminal proceedings under Article 294 (organisation of mass riots), the interior ministry said.Police were filming everything and had opened criminal proceedings under Article 294 (organisation of mass riots), the interior ministry said.
Call for defianceCall for defiance
Earlier the rally on the main square heard a call from a former Ukrainian navy chief for members of the armed forces to defy "illegal" orders from those in power, Unian news agency reported. Mr Klitschko has called on President Yanukovych to respond to the protesters' demands and to hold elections.
Rear Adm Ihor Tenyukh, who was sacked by President Yanukovych in 2010, warned of the dangers posed by the "coup d'etat planned by the current authorities". "You're fighting with your nation. Stop the escalation. Don't go the way of (former Romanian president Nicolae) Ceausescu and (former Libyan leader Muammar) Gaddafi.
"Tomorrow the regime will enslave you too. Therefore we are calling on you to fulfil your military oath of loyalty to the Ukrainian people and not to the authorities who have gone off the rails," he was quoted as saying. During the day, the rally on the main square heard a call from a former Ukrainian navy chief for members of the armed forces to defy "illegal" orders from those in power, Unian news agency reported.
"Tomorrow the regime will enslave you too. Therefore we are calling on you to fulfil your military oath of loyalty to the Ukrainian people and not to the authorities who have gone off the rails," said Rear Admiral Ihor Tenyukh, who was sacked by Mr Yanukovych in 2010.
Opposition leaders are under huge pressure to come up with an action plan, amid criticism from many activists that their campaign has been too passive.Opposition leaders are under huge pressure to come up with an action plan, amid criticism from many activists that their campaign has been too passive.
The new curbs on protests, which have been signed into law by the president, include:The new curbs on protests, which have been signed into law by the president, include:
The protesters have been camping out behind extensive barricades on the Euromaidan, as Independence Square has been dubbed, for nearly two months.The protesters have been camping out behind extensive barricades on the Euromaidan, as Independence Square has been dubbed, for nearly two months.
The mass demonstrations were initially triggered by President Yanukovych's last-minute rejection of an EU deal under heavy pressure from Russia in November.The mass demonstrations were initially triggered by President Yanukovych's last-minute rejection of an EU deal under heavy pressure from Russia in November.
The protesters' demands later widened to include the fight against what they said was widespread government corruption and abuse of power.The protesters' demands later widened to include the fight against what they said was widespread government corruption and abuse of power.
Are you in Kiev? Are you taking part in the rally? Email your comments to haveyoursay@bbc.co.ukAre you in Kiev? Are you taking part in the rally? Email your comments to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk
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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