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Ukraine: 'Deadly' clashes as protests demand parliament vote Ukraine: Deadly clashes around parliament in Kiev
(about 1 hour later)
Violent clashes have erupted between protesters and police in central Kiev, with Ukrainian opposition sources saying at least three people have died. Violent clashes have erupted between protesters and police in Ukraine's capital, Kiev, with at least seven people reported killed.
Police used rubber bullets and stun grenades to stop thousands of protesters marching on parliament, where politicians had been due to debate constitutional changes. In the worst violence in weeks, police used rubber bullets and stun grenades to stop thousands of stone-throwing protesters marching on parliament.
Crowds also forced their way into the headquarters of the governing party Security forces have given protesters a deadline of 18:00 (16:00 GMT) to end the unrest or face police action.
The changes are aimed at curbing President Viktor Yanukovych's powers. The clashes came as MPs were due to debate changes to the constitution.
The opposition had repeatedly warned that failure to act would further inflame mass anti-government protests - and these have reignited after a period of relative calm. The proposals would restore the 2004 constitution and curb the powers of President Viktor Yanukovych, but the opposition say they were blocked from submitting their draft.
Ukraine's unrest began in November, when Mr Yanukovych backed away from an association and free trade deal with the European Union, and instead agreed to a large loan from Russia. Smoke bombs
Ukraine's unrest began in November, when Mr Yanukovych rejected a deal with the EU in favour of closer ties with Russia.
The unrest subsided after protesters left official buildings they had been occupying and the government granted them an amnesty.
But protest camps remain on the streets and the opposition, which insists the president must resign, had warned the government risked inflaming tensions if it failed to act.
On Tuesday, tens of thousands of protesters tried to march on the parliament building but were blocked by lines of police vehicles.
Some ripped up cobblestones to throw at police, and others threw smoke bombs. Police responded with stun and smoke grenades, and rubber bullets.
Protesters also attacked the headquarters of President Yanukovych's Party of the Regions, temporarily smashing their way in before being forced out by police.
Emergency officials said one person - believed to be an employee - was found dead inside the burned-out offices.
The bodies of three protesters were inside a building close to parliament. A number of medical workers operating in opposition field hospitals gave the same number of dead.
Another three bodies were seen lying in the street.
Dozens of protesters and security personnel are reported to have been injured.
The heads of the security services and internal affairs ministry have given the protesters a deadline of 18:00 to put an end to the clashes, warning they will then "use all the possible methods" to end it.
Police have also converged on the edges of Independence Square, the site of the main protest camp since November. The entire Kiev metro has been shut down.
Earlier on Tuesday, there were scuffles in parliament as the opposition tried to submit a draft resolution on reinstating the 2004 constitution.
Opposition leader Arseniy Yatsenyuk said the move was being blocked by President Yanukovych, saying his party members "show no desire whatsoever to end the political crisis".
The changes would mean President Yanukovych losing some of the powers he has gained since his election in 2010, including the power to appoint the prime minister and most cabinet members. They could also lead to snap presidential elections.
MPs who support the president say the proposals have not been thoroughly discussed, and that more time is needed.
'Connivance'
Russia's foreign ministry said the latest violence was a "direct result of connivance by Western politicians and European structures that have shut their eyes... on the aggressive actions of radical forces", reported Reuters news agency.Russia's foreign ministry said the latest violence was a "direct result of connivance by Western politicians and European structures that have shut their eyes... on the aggressive actions of radical forces", reported Reuters news agency.
Moscow wants Ukraine to join the Russia-led customs union, which also has Belarus and Kazakhstan as members. Both the EU and Russia have accused each other of interfering in Ukraine's affairs.
The EU and Russia have accused each other of interfering in Ukraine's affairs. In a separate development, Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said Moscow would provide Ukraine with a new $2bn (£1.2bn) tranche of loans this week.
'Doors locked'
Tens of thousands of protesters trying to march on the parliament building were blocked by lines of police vehicles, according to reports from Kiev.
Some ripped up cobblestones to throw at police, and others threw smoke bombs, while police responded with stun and smoke grenades, and rubber bullets.
Protesters attacked the headquarters of President Yanukovych's Party of the Regions, temporarily smashing their way in before being forced out by police, reported 5 Kanal TV.
Opposition MP Lesya Orobets - a member of the Batkivshchyna party - said on her Facebook page that the bodies of three protesters were inside a building close to parliament. A number of medical workers operating in opposition field hospitals gave the same number of dead.
Several people are reported to have been injured, including some 30 protesters, seven interior ministry troops and a news photographer.
Inside parliament, opposition leader Vitaly Klitschko appealed to Mr Yanukovych to take the riot police off the streets to avert further "conflict in society".
Earlier, opposition MPs blocked the parliamentary rostrum in protest after parliamentary staff refused to register their resolution on reinstating the 2004 constitution.
"Our deputies have just returned from the draft law registration section," opposition leader Arseniy Yatsenyuk said, according to Interfax-Ukraine news agency.
"They have just simply locked the doors there on the instructions of [Speaker Volodymyr] Rybak and are refusing even to talk to Ukrainian people's deputies, let alone register the resolution."
Mr Rybak is a member of Mr Yanukovych's ruling Party of Regions.
The opposition has been pushing for weeks for a return to the 2004 constitution, which would mean President Yanukovych losing some of the powers he has gained since his election in 2010.
The changes would mean that parliament - not the president - would appoint the prime minister and most cabinet members, as well as regional governors.
The move could also lead to snap presidential elections - a key demand of the opposition.
MPs who support the president have argued that different proposals on how to return to the previous constitution legitimately have not been thoroughly discussed, and more time is needed to iron out all the differences between the two sides.
In a separate development, Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said Moscow would provide Ukraine with a new $2bn (£1.2bn) tranche of loans "this week".
In December, Moscow pledged $15bn to back Ukraine's struggling economy, but so far only $3bn has been transferred.In December, Moscow pledged $15bn to back Ukraine's struggling economy, but so far only $3bn has been transferred.
The Kremlin had hinted it would freeze the loan until a new government acceptable to Moscow was formed after Ukrainian PM Mykola Azarov resigned last month.The Kremlin had hinted it would freeze the loan until a new government acceptable to Moscow was formed after Ukrainian PM Mykola Azarov resigned last month.
On Monday, an amnesty for anti-government protesters in Ukraine came into force after demonstrators ended their occupation of government buildings in Kiev and in the regions. Germany's Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier urged all sides to "seek a political solution through talks".
Protesters had held some of the buildings for more than two months. "A return to violence in Ukraine is certainly not a way to reach a settlement and a good future for the country," he said, after a phone call with Ukraine's Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara.
But a sprawling tent city remains in Kiev's central square, where some denounced the decision to end the occupations.
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