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-unrest-four-dead-as-protesters-storm-parliament-building-and-ruling-party-offices-in-kiev-9136488.html
The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| 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. |
| Following the deaths, Ukrainian opposition leader Vitaly Klitschko made an impassioned plea to President Viktor Yanukovich not to send in police to break up a peaceful protest on Kiev's Independence Square, after a 6pm (1600 GMT) deadline for protesters to end street clashes with police set by Ukraine’s law enforcement agencies passed. | |
| Speaking on the square known locally as the Maidan, Klitschko urged women and children to leave the area, saying: "We cannot exclude the possibility of use of force in an assault on the Maidan." | |
| Earlier, 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 Mr 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 | Additional reporting by AP and PA |