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Ukraine: Deadly clashes around parliament in Kiev Ukraine: Deadly clashes around parliament in Kiev
(about 1 hour later)
Violent clashes have erupted between protesters and police in Ukraine's capital, Kiev, with at least seven people reported killed. Violent clashes between protesters and police have erupted in Ukraine's capital, Kiev, with at least seven people, including a policeman, killed.
In the worst violence in weeks, police used rubber bullets and stun grenades to stop thousands of stone-throwing protesters marching on parliament. In the worst violence in weeks, police used rubber bullets and stun grenades to stop thousands of protesters marching on parliament.
Security forces have given protesters a deadline of 18:00 (16:00 GMT) to end the unrest or face police action. A deadline set by the security forces for the violence to end has passed with no immediate sign of police action.
The clashes came as MPs were due to debate changes to the constitution.The clashes came as MPs were due to debate changes to the constitution.
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. The proposals would curb the powers of President Viktor Yanukovych, but the opposition say they were blocked from submitting their draft, meaning no debate could take place.
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said she was "deeply worried" by the escalation of violence, and urged politicians to "address the root causes".EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said she was "deeply worried" by the escalation of violence, and urged politicians to "address the root causes".
"Political leaders must now assume their shared responsibility to rebuild trust and create the conditions for an effective solution to the political crisis," she said. Russia blamed the upsurge in violence on "connivance by Western politicians and European structures" and their refusal to consider the "aggressive actions" of radical factions within the protest movement.
Russia blamed the upsurge in violence on "connivance by Western politicians and European structures" and their refusal to consider the "aggressive actions of radical forces". Officer shot dead
Smoke bombs
Ukraine's unrest began in November, when Mr Yanukovych rejected a deal with the EU in favour of closer ties with Russia.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. The mood had calmed in recent days, but protest camps remain on the streets and the opposition - which insists the president must resign - had warned the government it risked inflaming tensions if it failed to act.
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, thousands of protesters tried to march on the parliament building to put pressure on the government to address constitutional reform.
On Tuesday, tens of thousands of protesters tried to march on the parliament building but were blocked by lines of police vehicles. But the march was 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. The BBC's David Stern in Kiev says it is unclear what sparked the clashes - protesters and police have blamed each other.
Unlike in previous weeks, violence took place in a number of locations, our correspondent adds.
Some protesters ripped up cobblestones to throw at police. Others threw smoke bombs. Police fired 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.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. One person - believed to be an employee - was found dead inside.
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. The bodies of three protesters were found inside a building close to parliament. Another three bodies were seen lying in the street.
Another three bodies were seen lying in the street. The interior ministry said a policeman had died after being shot in the neck.
Dozens of protesters and security personnel are reported to have been injured. Dozens of protesters and security personnel are also 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. The heads of the security services and internal affairs ministry gave the protesters a deadline of 18:00 to put an end to the clashes, warning they would "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. The entire Kiev metro has been shut down, and police have converged on the edges of Independence Square, the site of the main protest camp since November.
Earlier on Tuesday, there were scuffles in parliament as the opposition tried to submit a draft resolution on reinstating the 2004 constitution. Protest leader Vitaly Klitschko urged women and children to leave the square, saying they could not "exclude the possibility of use of force".
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". But the deadline came and went with no apparent sign of security force action.
US 'appalled'
Inside parliament, there were scuffles as the opposition tried to submit a draft resolution on reinstating the 2004 constitution.
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.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.
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".
MPs who support the president say the proposals have not been thoroughly discussed, and that more time is needed.MPs who support the president say the proposals have not been thoroughly discussed, and that more time is needed.
The speaker of parliament, Volodymyr Rybak, said opposition leaders would meet the president on Wednesday morning for talks. The speaker of parliament, Volodymyr Rybak, said opposition leaders would meet the president on Wednesday morning for further talks.
'Connivance' The US said it was "appalled" by the latest violence and called on the president to "immediately de-escalate the situation", while German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier called on both sides to "return urgently" to their attempts to find a political solution.
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 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.
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