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Ukraine unrest: 'Four dead' as protesters storm parliament building and ruling party offices in Kiev | Ukraine unrest: 'Four dead' as protesters storm parliament building and ruling party offices in Kiev |
(35 minutes later) | |
At least four anti-government protesters have reportedly died outside of the Ukrainian parliament building after violent clashes with the police in central Kiev on Tuesday. | At least four anti-government protesters have reportedly died outside of the Ukrainian parliament building after violent clashes with the police in central Kiev on Tuesday. |
Three protesters were killed in the unrest, the opposition reported, and emergency workers found another person dead after a fire at the ruling party's office in Kiev. | Three protesters were killed in the unrest, the opposition reported, and emergency workers found another person dead after a fire at the ruling party's office in Kiev. |
Ukraine’s law enforcement agencies has set a deadline for protesters to end street clashes with police in Kiev by 6pm (1600 GMT), and vowed to restore calm if “disorder” does not stop. | |
Plumes of smoke and tear gas filled the air in the capital and stun grenades boomed, as thousands of angry anti-government protesters clashed two days after the government and the opposition reached an unstable compromise that saw jailed activists released. | |
In response, protesters vacated a government building in Kiev they had been occupying since 1 December. | In response, protesters vacated a government building in Kiev they had been occupying since 1 December. |
The clashes dimmed hope for an imminent solution to the political crisis. | The clashes dimmed hope for an imminent solution to the political crisis. |
Opposition leaders have accused the pro-government factions in parliament of dragging their feet on the key opposition demand of constitutional reform to limit the President's powers. | Opposition leaders have accused the pro-government factions in parliament of dragging their feet on the key opposition demand of constitutional reform to limit the President's powers. |
Thousands of demonstrators marched towards parliament hurling stones, shouting "shame!" at police, and set trucks blocking their way on fire to put pressure on politicians. | Thousands of demonstrators marched towards parliament hurling stones, shouting "shame!" at police, and set trucks blocking their way on fire to put pressure on politicians. |
The police retaliated by using stun grenades and fired what appeared to be small metal balls into the crowds. | The police retaliated by using stun grenades and fired what appeared to be small metal balls into the crowds. |
Dozens of protesters and police staff were injured, as well as journalists working for the Associated Press and the Reuters news agencies. | Dozens of protesters and police staff were injured, as well as journalists working for the Associated Press and the Reuters news agencies. |
The protests began in November after President Viktor Yanukovych froze ties with the EU in exchange for a bailout from Russia as the two economic blocks manouvered to gain influence over the former Soviet republic. | The protests began in November after President Viktor Yanukovych froze ties with the EU in exchange for a bailout from Russia as the two economic blocks manouvered to gain influence over the former Soviet republic. |
Russian president Vladimir Putin promised Mr Yanukovych $15 billion (£8.9 billion) in loans in December, but after purchasing Ukrainian bonds worth $3 billion (£1.79 billion) Russia put the payments on hold. | |
The Russian finance minister said on Monday that $2 billion (£1.19 billion) more would be purchased this week. | |
Tensions among protesters and officials soared after Russia's finance minister offered to resume financial aid to Ukraine, just as Mr Yanukovych was expected to nominate a new prime minister, prompting fears among the opposition that he would hire a Russian-leaning loyalist. | |
“After weekend progress in Kiev, sorry to see renewed violence,” US ambassador Geoffrey R Pyatt said in a Twitter post. “Politics needs to happen in the Rada (parliament), not on the street.” | “After weekend progress in Kiev, sorry to see renewed violence,” US ambassador Geoffrey R Pyatt said in a Twitter post. “Politics needs to happen in the Rada (parliament), not on the street.” |
Opposition leader Vitali Klitschko called on Mr Yanukovych to agree to the reforms and to call early elections or face a serious escalation of the crisis. | Opposition leader Vitali Klitschko called on Mr Yanukovych to agree to the reforms and to call early elections or face a serious escalation of the crisis. |
“We are talking minutes, not hours,” Mr Klitschko told reporters in parliament. | “We are talking minutes, not hours,” Mr Klitschko told reporters in parliament. |
Mr Yanukovych still remains popular in the Russian-speaking eastern and southern regions of the country, where economic and cultural ties with Russia are strong. | Mr Yanukovych still remains popular in the Russian-speaking eastern and southern regions of the country, where economic and cultural ties with Russia are strong. |
Additional reporting by AP and PA |