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Ukraine police storm main Kiev 'Maidan' protest camp Ukraine police storm main Kiev 'Maidan' protest camp
(about 1 hour later)
Ukrainian police are storming the main anti-government protest camp in the capital, Kiev, after months of occupation. Police are storming the main protest camp in Ukraine's capital, Kiev, which has been occupied since November.
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. On Tuesday at least 13 people were killed, including six policemen, in the worst violence seen in weeks.
During the day, at least 13 people were killed, including six policemen, as protesters and security forces clashed in the worst violence in weeks. Two key protest leaders have gone to see President Viktor Yanukovych, who has so far refused calls to resign.
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. Vitali Klitschko, the pro-EU leader of the Udar (Punch) movement, and Fatherland leader Arseniy Yatsenyuk, arrived at Mr Yanukovych's residence from the Maidan late on Tuesday, but it was not clear whether they had yet seen him.
The city's metro service was suspended, and there were reports that cars were being prevented from coming in to the capital. Both leaders have so far refused to end the protests.
'Island of freedom''Island of freedom'
Protest leaders had insisted they would not retreat, though warned that they could not "exclude the possibility" of the authorities using force. Security forces had given protesters a deadline of 18:00 local time (16:00 GMT) to end the unrest and had surrounded Independence Square, 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.
Then shortly before 18:00 GMT, police announced over loudspeakers that they were about to begin "an anti-terror operation".Then shortly before 18:00 GMT, police announced over loudspeakers that they were about to begin "an anti-terror operation".
They began advancing with an armoured vehicle, dismantling barricades and fired stun grenades and water cannon. They advanced with an armoured vehicle, dismantling barricades and firing stun grenades and water cannon.
Protesters lit fires and threw fireworks and Molotov cocktails. Many tents have been burned. Protesters threw fireworks and petrol bombs, and lit fires to block off police. Many tents have been burned but it was unclear whether there had been casualties.
But large numbers of people are still in the square. Protest leaders are on the main stage, encouraging them to stay. In speeches from the main stage, protest leaders urged people to stay.
"We will not go anywhere from here," said opposition leader Vitaly Klitschko. "We will not go anywhere from here," said Mr Klitschko. "This is an island of freedom and we will defend it."
"This is an island of freedom and we will defend it." Mr Yatsenyuk appealed to President Yanukovych to "stop the bloodshed and call a truce".
Mr Yatsenyuk, who leads the Fatherland party, appealed to President Viktor Yanukovych to "call off your chain dogs who are shooting at civilians". "We are talking about human lives and the future of the country which could be drowned in blood. Stop, Viktor Yanukovych, stop," he said, in comments broadcast live 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 comments broadcast live on Ukraine's News 24 channel. Hours later, the police action appeared to have been scaled down, and large numbers of people were still in the square.
"We are talking about human lives and the future of the country which could be drowned in blood. Stop, Viktor Yanukovych, stop." Meanwhile, there are reports of unrest breaking out elsewhere in Ukraine, including the western cities of Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk.
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.
'End the confrontation'
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 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."
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon had earlier called for restraint and dialogue.
In other international messages of concern:
Meanwhile, there are also reports of unrest breaking out elsewhere in Ukraine, including the cities of Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk in the west.
Debate 'blocked'Debate 'blocked'
Ukraine's unrest began in November, when President Yanukovych rejected a deal with the EU in favour of closer ties with Russia. 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.
Pro-EU protesters are demanding his resignation and snap elections. Ukraine's unrest began in November, when President Yanukovych rejected a trade deal with the EU in favour of closer ties with Russia.
After weeks of unrest, the mood had calmed in recent days, but the protest camps remained in place. Pro-EU protesters demanded his resignation and snap elections.
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. After weeks of unrest, the mood had calmed in recent days, but people remained on the streets,
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. Correspondents say it was unclear what sparked the crisis, with each side blaming the other. Some protesters outside parliament ripped up cobblestones to throw at police. Police fired stun and smoke grenades, and rubber bullets. Correspondents say it was unclear what sparked the latest violence, with each side blaming the other.
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.
Police said late on Tuesday that at least 13 people were had been killed, including six police officers.Police said late on Tuesday that at least 13 people were had been killed, including six police officers.
The president is scheduled to meet protest leaders on Wednesday morning to discuss the constitutional proposals. The White House said it was "appalled" by the violence, saying "force will not resolve the crisis".
Spokesman Jay Carney urged President Yanukovych to "restart a dialogue with opposition leaders today".
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon had earlier called for restraint and dialogue.
In other international messages of concern: