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Ukrainian president Yanukovych meets opposition in Kiev | Ukrainian president Yanukovych meets opposition in Kiev |
(35 minutes later) | |
Ukraine's President Viktor Yanukovych is meeting opposition leaders in a new effort to end worsening unrest that is spreading across the country. | |
Several leaders of parliamentary groups were at the talks, the presidency said. | Several leaders of parliamentary groups were at the talks, the presidency said. |
Protesters briefly occupied the energy ministry in Kiev earlier. The interior minister said efforts to resolve the crisis peacefully were "futile". | |
Four protesters and a policeman have died in clashes since November when the government rejected closer EU ties. | |
The crisis escalated this week when two activists were killed, and another was found dead with torture marks in a forest near the capital. | |
A 45-year-old protester is said to have died in a Kiev hospital on Saturday, after sustaining injuries in earlier violence. | A 45-year-old protester is said to have died in a Kiev hospital on Saturday, after sustaining injuries in earlier violence. |
President Viktor Yanukovych earlier promised to make concessions to try to end the country's crisis, pledging to amend anti-protest laws and reshuffle the cabinet. | President Viktor Yanukovych earlier promised to make concessions to try to end the country's crisis, pledging to amend anti-protest laws and reshuffle the cabinet. |
But Vitaly Klitschko - one of the opposition leaders invited to the Yanukovych talks - said the protesters now wanted the president to resign. | But Vitaly Klitschko - one of the opposition leaders invited to the Yanukovych talks - said the protesters now wanted the president to resign. |
Earlier, Ukraine's interior minister said talks with protesters had failed. | |
Vitaliy Zakharchenko - in charge of the police and one of the figures most despised by the protesters - blamed "radical groups" for the unrest, adding that protesters had arms. | |
"The events of recent days in the Ukrainian capital showed that our attempts to peacefully resolve the conflict without resorting to forceful opposition remain futile," he added. | |
Although the protest movement -the "EuroMaidan" - is largely peaceful, a hardcore of radicals have been fighting pitched battles with police away from the main protest on Independence Square. | Although the protest movement -the "EuroMaidan" - is largely peaceful, a hardcore of radicals have been fighting pitched battles with police away from the main protest on Independence Square. |
Mr Zakharchenko accused opposition of no longer able to control "radical forces" and of putting civilians in danger. | Mr Zakharchenko accused opposition of no longer able to control "radical forces" and of putting civilians in danger. |
He also said that activists had shot a police officer and kidnapped three others - allegations denied as "false and dangerous" by protest leaders. | He also said that activists had shot a police officer and kidnapped three others - allegations denied as "false and dangerous" by protest leaders. |
Later on Saturday, Mr Zakharchenko said protesters had released two officers, who were subsequently sent to hospital. Again, protesters called his words a provocation. | Later on Saturday, Mr Zakharchenko said protesters had released two officers, who were subsequently sent to hospital. Again, protesters called his words a provocation. |
Protesters have seized a number of government buildings in Ukrainian cities outside Kiev, particularly in the west, which has traditionally favoured closer ties with Europe. | Protesters have seized a number of government buildings in Ukrainian cities outside Kiev, particularly in the west, which has traditionally favoured closer ties with Europe. |