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| Ukraine police storm main Kiev 'Maidan' protest camp | Ukraine police storm main Kiev 'Maidan' protest camp |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Ukrainian police are storming the main anti-government protest camp in the capital, Kiev, after months of occupation. | Ukrainian police are storming the main anti-government protest camp in the capital, Kiev, after months of occupation. |
| Explosions are taking place, fireworks are being thrown and large fires have broken out in Independence Square, known locally as the Maidan. | Explosions are taking place, fireworks are being thrown and large fires have broken out in Independence Square, known locally as the Maidan. |
| Police have deployed water cannon. | Police have deployed water cannon. |
| During the day, at least nine people were killed, including two policemen, as protesters and security forces clashed in the worst violence in weeks. | During the day, at least nine people were killed, including two policemen, as protesters and security forces clashed in the worst violence in weeks. |
| Security forces had given protesters a deadline of 18:00 local time (16:00 GMT) to end the unrest and had surrounded Independence Square, which has been the scene of a mostly peaceful protest camp since November. | |
| The city's metro service was suspended, and there were reports that cars were being prevented from coming in to the capital. | The city's metro service was suspended, and there were reports that cars were being prevented from coming in to the capital. |
| Protest leaders had insisted they would not retreat, though but warned that they could not "exclude the possibility" of the authorities using force. | |
| Shortly before 18:00 GMT, police announced over loudspeakers that they were about to begin "an anti-terror operation". | Shortly before 18:00 GMT, police announced over loudspeakers that they were about to begin "an anti-terror operation". |
| Then they began advancing with an armoured vehicle. Police dismantled barricades and fired stun grenades and water cannon. | |
| Protesters lit fires and threw fireworks. Large fires are burning in the square and have destroyed many tents. | |
| Despite the clashes, large numbers of people are still in the square. Protest leaders are on the main stage, encouraging people to stay. | |
| "We will not go anywhere from here," said opposition leader Vitaly Klitschko. | |
| "This is an island of freedom and we will defend it." | |
| Mr Yatsenyuk, who leads the Fatherland party, appealed to President Viktor Yanukovych to "call off your chain dogs who are shooting at civilians". | Mr Yatsenyuk, who leads the Fatherland party, appealed to President Viktor Yanukovych to "call off your chain dogs who are shooting at civilians". |
| "There are people here, children, youth and women. We did not start this confrontation. We are urging you to pull the law enforcement bodies back 200 metres. Stop the bloodshed and call a truce until morning," he said, in a speech from the stage which was broadcast on Ukraine's News 24 channel. | "There are people here, children, youth and women. We did not start this confrontation. We are urging you to pull the law enforcement bodies back 200 metres. Stop the bloodshed and call a truce until morning," he said, in a speech from the stage which was broadcast on Ukraine's News 24 channel. |
| "We are talking about human lives and the future of the country which could be drowned in blood. Stop, Viktor Yanukovych, stop." | "We are talking about human lives and the future of the country which could be drowned in blood. Stop, Viktor Yanukovych, stop." |
| An aide to Mr Yanukovych was quoted by Ukrainian media earlier as saying the president was "against confrontation and conflict" and did not want to forcibly disperse the camp. | |
| The BBC's David Stern in Kiev says this is a key moment for the country and that many people are scared of further escalation. Although this does not necessarily mean a civil war - as some have previously suggested - Ukraine remains dangerously divided, our correspondent says. | The BBC's David Stern in Kiev says this is a key moment for the country and that many people are scared of further escalation. Although this does not necessarily mean a civil war - as some have previously suggested - Ukraine remains dangerously divided, our correspondent says. |
| UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon had earlier called for restraint and dialogue. | UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon had earlier called for restraint and dialogue. |
| The White House said it was "appalled" by the violence, saying "force will not resolve the crisis". | The White House said it was "appalled" by the violence, saying "force will not resolve the crisis". |
| "To restore peace and stability, we urge President Yanukovych to de-escalate immediately the situation and end the confrontation" with protesters, said spokesman Jay Carney. "We also urge him to restart a dialogue with opposition leaders today." | "To restore peace and stability, we urge President Yanukovych to de-escalate immediately the situation and end the confrontation" with protesters, said spokesman Jay Carney. "We also urge him to restart a dialogue with opposition leaders today." |
| In other messages of concern: | |
| March blocked | March blocked |
| Ukraine's unrest began in November, when President Yanukovych rejected a deal with the EU in favour of closer ties with Russia. | Ukraine's unrest began in November, when President Yanukovych rejected a deal with the EU in favour of closer ties with Russia. |
| Pro-EU protesters are demanding his resignation and snap elections. | Pro-EU protesters are demanding his resignation and snap elections. |
| After weeks of unrest, the mood had calmed in recent days, but the protest camps remained in place. | After weeks of unrest, the mood had calmed in recent days, but the protest camps remained in place. |
| Then earlier on Tuesday, police blocked protesters from marching on parliament, where MPs had been due to debate proposed changes to the constitution which would have reduced the powers of the president. | Then earlier on Tuesday, police blocked protesters from marching on parliament, where MPs had been due to debate proposed changes to the constitution which would have reduced the powers of the president. |
| The debate did not take place. Mr Yatsenyuk said President Yanukovych was blocking the reforms and that his allies "show no desire whatsoever to end the political crisis". | The debate did not take place. Mr Yatsenyuk said President Yanukovych was blocking the reforms and that his allies "show no desire whatsoever to end the political crisis". |
| But MPs who support the president said the proposals had not been thoroughly discussed, and that more time was needed. | But MPs who support the president said the proposals had not been thoroughly discussed, and that more time was needed. |
| Some protesters outside parliament ripped up cobblestones to throw at police. Others threw smoke bombs. Police fired stun and smoke grenades, and rubber bullets. | Some protesters outside parliament ripped up cobblestones to throw at police. Others threw smoke bombs. Police fired stun and smoke grenades, and rubber bullets. |
| Protesters also attacked the headquarters of President Yanukovych's Party of the Regions, temporarily smashing their way in and setting it on fire before being forced out by police. | Protesters also attacked the headquarters of President Yanukovych's Party of the Regions, temporarily smashing their way in and setting it on fire before being forced out by police. |
| At least seven protesters were killed along with two policemen who officials said died of gunshot wounds. | At least seven protesters were killed along with two policemen who officials said died of gunshot wounds. |
| The president is scheduled to meet protest leaders on Wednesday morning to discuss the constitutional proposals. | The president is scheduled to meet protest leaders on Wednesday morning to discuss the constitutional proposals. |
| In a key development, one of Ukraine's richest men - and a powerful financial backer of Mr Yanukovych - said on Tuesday that he believed there were "no circumstances that would justify the use of force against peaceful citizens". | In a key development, one of Ukraine's richest men - and a powerful financial backer of Mr Yanukovych - said on Tuesday that he believed there were "no circumstances that would justify the use of force against peaceful citizens". |
| "Human losses and injuries suffered by protesters and law-enforcers during street clashes is an unacceptable price for political mistakes," he said in a statement, calling for a return to negotiations for a peaceful solution to the crisis. | "Human losses and injuries suffered by protesters and law-enforcers during street clashes is an unacceptable price for political mistakes," he said in a statement, calling for a return to negotiations for a peaceful solution to the crisis. |