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| Ukraine unrest: Police and civilians die as officers 'fire water cannon on protesters throwing petrol bombs' | Ukraine unrest: Police and civilians die as officers 'fire water cannon on protesters throwing petrol bombs' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Ukraine has seen its deadliest day of violence since anti-government protests began, with fierce clashes bringing new intensity to a political crisis that has festered in Kiev since late November. | Ukraine has seen its deadliest day of violence since anti-government protests began, with fierce clashes bringing new intensity to a political crisis that has festered in Kiev since late November. |
| At least seven demonstrators and six police officers were killed in street battles in the Ukrainian capital, with dozens more injured. Several of the dead had suffered gunshot wounds, according to a police spokesperson. | At least seven demonstrators and six police officers were killed in street battles in the Ukrainian capital, with dozens more injured. Several of the dead had suffered gunshot wounds, according to a police spokesperson. |
| Clashes erupted outside government buildings in the centre of the city after opposition leaders warned that security forces were planning to clear the sprawling protest camp in Kiev’s Independence Square, which is also known as the Maidan. Television footage showed anti-government protesters throwing petrol bombs, fireworks and rocks at riot police, and setting fire to piles of tyres to prevent officers from entering the Maidan, while hundreds of riot police used water cannons on advancing protesters in sub-zero temperatures. | Clashes erupted outside government buildings in the centre of the city after opposition leaders warned that security forces were planning to clear the sprawling protest camp in Kiev’s Independence Square, which is also known as the Maidan. Television footage showed anti-government protesters throwing petrol bombs, fireworks and rocks at riot police, and setting fire to piles of tyres to prevent officers from entering the Maidan, while hundreds of riot police used water cannons on advancing protesters in sub-zero temperatures. |
| Ukrainian opposition leader Vitali Klitschko arrived at President Viktor Yanukovich's office for talks, Klitschko's spokeswoman said on Tuesday. | |
| Speaking from a stage in the square as fire burned around him earlier in the evening, the world champion boxer-turned-opposition-politician told the crowd: "We will not go anywhere from here. | |
| "This is an island of freedom and we will defend it," he said. | |
| “We see that this regime again has begun shooting people; they want to sink Ukraine in blood. We will not give in to a single provocation,” Arseniy Yatsenyuk, leader of Ukraine’s largest opposition bloc, also told the protesters. “We will not take one step back from this square. We have nowhere to retreat to. Ukraine is behind us, Ukraine’s future is behind us.” | |
| Olha Bilyk, spokeswoman for the Kiev city police, said two policemen were killed, likely by gunshot wounds and seven civilians died, including three who were shot, according to the Associated Press. The Interior Ministry said 40 police and 150 protesters were injured. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister blamed “radical forces” for the escalation. | Olha Bilyk, spokeswoman for the Kiev city police, said two policemen were killed, likely by gunshot wounds and seven civilians died, including three who were shot, according to the Associated Press. The Interior Ministry said 40 police and 150 protesters were injured. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister blamed “radical forces” for the escalation. |
| Despite the freezing conditions, dozens of tents have been set up in the square since the protests began in November, after President Viktor Yanukovych spurned a historic trade and political agreement with European Union in favour of a £9bn financial bailout from Russia, used to balance the country’s precarious finances. Russia had since frozen tranches of the aid amid behind-the-scenes pressure for Mr Yanukovich to crush the protest movement. | Despite the freezing conditions, dozens of tents have been set up in the square since the protests began in November, after President Viktor Yanukovych spurned a historic trade and political agreement with European Union in favour of a £9bn financial bailout from Russia, used to balance the country’s precarious finances. Russia had since frozen tranches of the aid amid behind-the-scenes pressure for Mr Yanukovich to crush the protest movement. |
| Hundreds of thousands of people took the streets to demonstrate peacefully against the move, but the protests turned violent when the government introduced sweeping new legislation limiting basic freedoms in a bid to finally crush the opposition. Though it was later repealed, the opposition continues to push for early elections (due in 2015) and changes to the constitution. The White House said it was appalled by the violence, and called on Mr Yanukovych to de-escalate the situation “immediately”. | Hundreds of thousands of people took the streets to demonstrate peacefully against the move, but the protests turned violent when the government introduced sweeping new legislation limiting basic freedoms in a bid to finally crush the opposition. Though it was later repealed, the opposition continues to push for early elections (due in 2015) and changes to the constitution. The White House said it was appalled by the violence, and called on Mr Yanukovych to de-escalate the situation “immediately”. |
| “We continue to condemn excessive use of force by either side. Force will not resolve the crisis,” White House spokesman Jay Carney said. “We urge President Yanukovych to de-escalate immediately… We urge him to restart a dialogue with opposition leaders.” | “We continue to condemn excessive use of force by either side. Force will not resolve the crisis,” White House spokesman Jay Carney said. “We urge President Yanukovych to de-escalate immediately… We urge him to restart a dialogue with opposition leaders.” |
| European and American officials have been attempting to broker talks between the opposition and the President. | European and American officials have been attempting to broker talks between the opposition and the President. |
| The clashes came two days after protesters agreed to leave a municipal building in Kiev they had occupied since December, after the government released dozens of jailed activists. But tensions flared again when Russia’s Finance Minister offered to deliver another tranche of bailout funds on Monday, sparking fears that the move could pave the way for a Moscow loyalist as the new Prime Minister. | The clashes came two days after protesters agreed to leave a municipal building in Kiev they had occupied since December, after the government released dozens of jailed activists. But tensions flared again when Russia’s Finance Minister offered to deliver another tranche of bailout funds on Monday, sparking fears that the move could pave the way for a Moscow loyalist as the new Prime Minister. |
| Anti-government demonstrators stand on barricades during clashes with riot police in Kiev (Getty) The EU’s foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said she was “seriously concerned about the escalation of violence”. | Anti-government demonstrators stand on barricades during clashes with riot police in Kiev (Getty) The EU’s foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said she was “seriously concerned about the escalation of violence”. |
| Mr Klitschko, who heads the oposition party Udar (Punch), said Mr Yanukovych had agreed to meet with opposition leaders on Wednesday. He called on Mr Yanukovych to call an early election and agree to reforms, or face a further escalation of the crisis. | Mr Klitschko, who heads the oposition party Udar (Punch), said Mr Yanukovych had agreed to meet with opposition leaders on Wednesday. He called on Mr Yanukovych to call an early election and agree to reforms, or face a further escalation of the crisis. |