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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'
(about 2 hours 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 11 demonstrators and seven police officers were killed in street battles in the Ukrainian capital, with hundreds more injured and several of the dead suffering gunshot wounds. The death toll could rise further.
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. Shortly before midnight the world champion boxer-turned-politician Vitali Klitschko, who heads the opposition party Udar (Punch), arrived at President Viktor Yanukovych’s office for talks. Earlier, he has called on the President to resign and to call early elections, while in an address to the 20,000 protesters estimated to be Independence Square he vowed: “We will not go anywhere from here, This is an island of freedom and we will defend it.”
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. Arseniy Yatsenyuk, leader of Ukraine’s largest opposition bloc, also arrived for talks and was similarly defiant: “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. 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.”
"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. As bodies began to be counted, Olha Bilyk, of Kiev city police, told the Associated Press that six policemen died from gunshot wounds and 159 were wounded, including 39 who were shot.
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. She also said seven civilians died, including three who were shot. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister blamed “radical forces” for the escalation.
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”. The co-ordinator for the opposition’s medical response team, Oleh Musiy, said more than 400 protesters were injured and claimed that about 20 had died. The offical death toll remained at 18.
“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.” Despite the freezing conditions, dozens of tents have been set up in the square since the protests began in November, after President 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 Yanukovych to crush the protest movement.
European and American officials have been attempting to broker talks between the opposition and the President. 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 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”.
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. “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.
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 clashes came after 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.
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.