This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/ukraine-protests-police-forced-to-abandon-kiev-conference-centre-to-opposition-as-presidents-latest-concessions-offer-fails-9085996.html
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Ukraine protests: Police forced to abandon Kiev conference centre to opposition as president's latest 'concessions' offer fails | Ukraine protests: Police forced to abandon Kiev conference centre to opposition as president's latest 'concessions' offer fails |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Opposition protesters are fortifying the latest building seized from the city of Kiev after expelling police stationed inside in clashes overnight. | Opposition protesters are fortifying the latest building seized from the city of Kiev after expelling police stationed inside in clashes overnight. |
| Demonstrators threw fireworks as they stormed the entrance to the Ukrainian House convention centre last night, smashing windows and calling for police to come out. | Demonstrators threw fireworks as they stormed the entrance to the Ukrainian House convention centre last night, smashing windows and calling for police to come out. |
| The protesters said they would not harm those inside, and the troops are believed to have made it out unscathed. | The protesters said they would not harm those inside, and the troops are believed to have made it out unscathed. |
| Police officers had reportedly been using the building to monitor mass demonstrations at the barricades near Kiev’s European Square, close to the heart of the opposition protests, the central Independence Square. | |
| Activists said a mass rally of around 100,000 people due to be held in the centre of the city today had been called off, saying the opposition will instead hold a memorial service for a protester killed during clashes with police this week. | |
| The movement, which began in November after President Viktor Yanukovich spurned a political and trade agreement with the EU in favour of closer ties with Russia, turned violent a week ago when the government introduced tough new anti-protest laws aimed at curbing the demonstrations. | |
| Mikhail Zhiznevsky, 25, was one of two demonstrators shot dead on Wednesday, the opposition said today. | |
| Last night, Mr Yanukovich offered surprise concessions to opposition leaders in an apparent bid to solve the country’s political crisis while maintaining his own position in power, as mass protests continued to spread across the country. | Last night, Mr Yanukovich offered surprise concessions to opposition leaders in an apparent bid to solve the country’s political crisis while maintaining his own position in power, as mass protests continued to spread across the country. |
| Arseniy Yatsenyuk, leader of Ukraine’s largest opposition bloc, was offered the role of prime minister, replacing Mykola Azarov. The world champion boxer turned politician, Vitali Klitschko, who leads Udar, was offered the post of deputy prime minister, and would have been put in charge of humanitarian affairs. | Arseniy Yatsenyuk, leader of Ukraine’s largest opposition bloc, was offered the role of prime minister, replacing Mykola Azarov. The world champion boxer turned politician, Vitali Klitschko, who leads Udar, was offered the post of deputy prime minister, and would have been put in charge of humanitarian affairs. |
| In an address to thousands of protesters in Independence Square on Saturday night, leaders said protests would continue as they press for early elections to be held this year and changes to the constitution to limit presidential powers. | |
| Mr Klitschko said the opposition would not step back, and would continue peace talks. | Mr Klitschko said the opposition would not step back, and would continue peace talks. |
| Though he did not reject the offer of the position of prime minister in his speech, Mr Yatsenyuk later tweeted a message to Mr Yanukovich saying: “No deal... we're finishing what we started. The people decide our leaders, not you.” | Though he did not reject the offer of the position of prime minister in his speech, Mr Yatsenyuk later tweeted a message to Mr Yanukovich saying: “No deal... we're finishing what we started. The people decide our leaders, not you.” |
| He also said he would continue to push for closer ties with the EU and for the release of fellow opposition leader and former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who is serving a prison sentence which she says is politically motivated. | He also said he would continue to push for closer ties with the EU and for the release of fellow opposition leader and former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who is serving a prison sentence which she says is politically motivated. |
| Inside the convention centre this morning, men with clubs stood guard in the lobby as peaceful protesters gathered to survey the damage. On the upper levels, food and hot drinks were being distributed to the occupiers. | Inside the convention centre this morning, men with clubs stood guard in the lobby as peaceful protesters gathered to survey the damage. On the upper levels, food and hot drinks were being distributed to the occupiers. |
| Opposition activists told the Kyiv Post they had found spent cartridges on the roof of the building from what they said was a sniper’s perch. This could not be independently verified. | Opposition activists told the Kyiv Post they had found spent cartridges on the roof of the building from what they said was a sniper’s perch. This could not be independently verified. |
| The building joins a growing list of those now occupied by the protesters, as demonstrations continue to spread across the country. | The building joins a growing list of those now occupied by the protesters, as demonstrations continue to spread across the country. |