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Ukraine unrest: police and civilians die as police 'fire water cannon on protesters throwing petrol bombs' | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A large section of the protest camp in the center of Ukraine's capital has been engulfed in flames as police advance on the demonstrators. | |
Using water cannons and stun grenades, the riot police were moving into the sprawling camp late Tuesday after nine people were killed in violent street clashes. | |
Police officers tried to disperse protesters who were throwing petrol bombs on the edge of Kiev's Independence Square, television pictures showed on Tuesday. | |
Anti-government demonstrators also threw fireworks and stones at riot police, igniting piles of tyres and wood to block officers entering the square they have occupied in central Kiev. | |
Seven civilians and two policemen had died, the police said. | |
The action comes after a 6pm (1600 GMT) deadline for protesters to end street clashes with police set by Ukraine’s law enforcement agencies passed. | |
In an impassioned speech, Ukrainian opposition leader Vitaly Klitschko failed to persuade President Viktor Yanukovich not to send in police to break up a peaceful protest on Kiev's Independence Square. | |
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." | 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. | 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. |
Anti-government demonstrators stand on barricades during clashes with riot police in Kiev (Getty) 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 |