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| Ukraine unrest: Protesters storm regional offices | Ukraine unrest: Protesters storm regional offices |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Anti-government demonstrators in Ukraine are expanding their protests after talks between the opposition and President Viktor Yanukovych stalled. | Anti-government demonstrators in Ukraine are expanding their protests after talks between the opposition and President Viktor Yanukovych stalled. |
| In western Ukraine, the activists seized the regional government office in the city of Ivano-Frankivsk and are storming another one in Chernivtsi. | In western Ukraine, the activists seized the regional government office in the city of Ivano-Frankivsk and are storming another one in Chernivtsi. |
| Protests were reported in Lutsk, in the north-west, and Sumy, in the east. | Protests were reported in Lutsk, in the north-west, and Sumy, in the east. |
| Meanwhile, Mr Yanukovych vowed to use "all legal means" if a solution to the crisis is not found. | |
| At a meeting with religious leaders, he also promised to amend anti-protests laws rushed through parliament last week and reshuffle the government at an urgent session of parliament due to begin on Tuesday. | |
| And he said amnesty would be granted to those detained activists who had not committed "grave crimes". | |
| In the capital Kiev, new barricades were erected overnight as the main protest camp expanded. | In the capital Kiev, new barricades were erected overnight as the main protest camp expanded. |
| Freezing demonstrators in Kiev's Independence Square - widely known as the Maidan - also occupied a government building as a truce with riot police continued. | Freezing demonstrators in Kiev's Independence Square - widely known as the Maidan - also occupied a government building as a truce with riot police continued. |
| Meanwhile, the parliament of the Crimean Autonomous Republic - seen as a staunch supporter of Mr Yanukovych - urged the president to declare a state of emergency. | Meanwhile, the parliament of the Crimean Autonomous Republic - seen as a staunch supporter of Mr Yanukovych - urged the president to declare a state of emergency. |
| In other developments on Friday: | In other developments on Friday: |
| The crisis escalated this week when the first deaths in the unrest happened. | The crisis escalated this week when the first deaths in the unrest happened. |
| Two protesters were shot during rioting on Hrushevskyy Street near the Maidan. The opposition says they were killed by riot police or snipers - the government denies the claim. | Two protesters were shot during rioting on Hrushevskyy Street near the Maidan. The opposition says they were killed by riot police or snipers - the government denies the claim. |
| And an activist was found dead in woods near Kiev after apparently being abducted, tortured and left to die in the snow. | And an activist was found dead in woods near Kiev after apparently being abducted, tortured and left to die in the snow. |
| The demonstrations were initially triggered by Mr Yanukovych's government last-minute decision to ditch a proposed association and free trade deal with the EU in November. | The demonstrations were initially triggered by Mr Yanukovych's government last-minute decision to ditch a proposed association and free trade deal with the EU in November. |
| But the protests later widened their demand to include the fight against what activists say are widespread government corruption and abuse of power. | But the protests later widened their demand to include the fight against what activists say are widespread government corruption and abuse of power. |
| The authorities deny the allegations. | The authorities deny the allegations. |
| Maidan vote | Maidan vote |
| In Ivano-Frankivsk, some 1,500 protesters occupied the regional administration and barricaded themselves in the building, according to the Ukrainska Pravda website. | In Ivano-Frankivsk, some 1,500 protesters occupied the regional administration and barricaded themselves in the building, according to the Ukrainska Pravda website. |
| The protesters are now demanding that the local governor should resign immediately. | The protesters are now demanding that the local governor should resign immediately. |
| In Chernivsti, crowds stormed the governor's office as police tried to protect the building. People shouted "Shame on you!" and "Resign!" | In Chernivsti, crowds stormed the governor's office as police tried to protect the building. People shouted "Shame on you!" and "Resign!" |
| In Lutsk, a big demonstration is being held outside the local administration. Unrest was also seen in Sumy. | In Lutsk, a big demonstration is being held outside the local administration. Unrest was also seen in Sumy. |
| Regional offices are being blockaded in the western city of Uzhgorod. | |
| Meanwhile, in Lviv protesters have now built barricades around the governor's office that they seized on Thursday. There were also reports that some members of the special police, Berkut, were resigning. | Meanwhile, in Lviv protesters have now built barricades around the governor's office that they seized on Thursday. There were also reports that some members of the special police, Berkut, were resigning. |
| In Kiev, masked activists stood guard around the newly-build defence barriers. Some activists were seen carrying riot shields captured from the police as trophies. | In Kiev, masked activists stood guard around the newly-build defence barriers. Some activists were seen carrying riot shields captured from the police as trophies. |
| The barricades took shape on Hryshevskyy Street and also closer to the presidential administration building. | The barricades took shape on Hryshevskyy Street and also closer to the presidential administration building. |
| One group of protesters took control of the main agricultural ministry building, reportedly meeting no resistance. | One group of protesters took control of the main agricultural ministry building, reportedly meeting no resistance. |
| "We need to keep people warm in the frost," protester Andriy Moiseenko was quoted as saying by the Associated Press, as temperatures dipped towards minus 16C. | "We need to keep people warm in the frost," protester Andriy Moiseenko was quoted as saying by the Associated Press, as temperatures dipped towards minus 16C. |
| Ministry workers were allowed to take their possessions but not permitted to go to work. | Ministry workers were allowed to take their possessions but not permitted to go to work. |
| Former boxer Vitaly Klitschko, one of three opposition leaders who met Mr Yanukovych, came back on Thursday evening saying the president had made no real concessions. | Former boxer Vitaly Klitschko, one of three opposition leaders who met Mr Yanukovych, came back on Thursday evening saying the president had made no real concessions. |
| "Hours of conversation were spent about nothing," he said. | "Hours of conversation were spent about nothing," he said. |
| People on the Maidan later voted to stop any talks with the president, and the decision was taken to expand the main protest camp. | People on the Maidan later voted to stop any talks with the president, and the decision was taken to expand the main protest camp. |
| The opposition had been calling for harsh new anti-protest laws to be repealed, a snap presidential election and the resignation of the government. | The opposition had been calling for harsh new anti-protest laws to be repealed, a snap presidential election and the resignation of the government. |
| Appeal for restraint | Appeal for restraint |
| Justice Minister Olena Lukash said on Thursday that further talks would take place, without saying when. | Justice Minister Olena Lukash said on Thursday that further talks would take place, without saying when. |
| Mr Klitschko, Arseniy Yatsenyuk and fellow opposition leader Oleh Tyahnybok had failed to condemn "extremist actions" at the talks, she added. | Mr Klitschko, Arseniy Yatsenyuk and fellow opposition leader Oleh Tyahnybok had failed to condemn "extremist actions" at the talks, she added. |
| Interior Minister Vitali Zakharchenko issued a statement guaranteeing that police would not take action against the protest camp on Independence Square. | Interior Minister Vitali Zakharchenko issued a statement guaranteeing that police would not take action against the protest camp on Independence Square. |
| He urged police officers to "exercise restraint and not to react to petty provocations". | He urged police officers to "exercise restraint and not to react to petty provocations". |
| Earlier, his ministry apologised after video footage emerged showing police humiliating a protester, who was made to walk around naked in the snow. | Earlier, his ministry apologised after video footage emerged showing police humiliating a protester, who was made to walk around naked in the snow. |
| 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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