This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26258998
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Ukraine crisis: EU sanctions push over Kiev bloodshed | Ukraine crisis: EU sanctions push over Kiev bloodshed |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Europe's leaders are to consider urgent sanctions against Ukraine after the worst violence in months of unrest claimed at least 26 lives. | |
| Violence that began on Tuesday continued through the night as police tried to uproot the protest stronghold in the capital Kiev. | Violence that began on Tuesday continued through the night as police tried to uproot the protest stronghold in the capital Kiev. |
| President Viktor Yanukovych blamed opposition leaders and Russia spoke of an attempted coup. | President Viktor Yanukovych blamed opposition leaders and Russia spoke of an attempted coup. |
| But the EU said it expected measures to target those behind the "repression". | But the EU said it expected measures to target those behind the "repression". |
| European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso spoke of the responsibility of "the political leadership" while several EU countries said they had no doubts that the Ukrainian authorities were to blame. | European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso spoke of the responsibility of "the political leadership" while several EU countries said they had no doubts that the Ukrainian authorities were to blame. |
| With an emergency meeting due to take place on Thursday, EU leaders have been expressing concern: | With an emergency meeting due to take place on Thursday, EU leaders have been expressing concern: |
| Police launched two assaults on Kiev's Independence Square, also known as the Maidan, in an attempt to regain control of the sprawling area that has been in the hands of protesters for several months. | Police launched two assaults on Kiev's Independence Square, also known as the Maidan, in an attempt to regain control of the sprawling area that has been in the hands of protesters for several months. |
| As police gained ground in the Maidan, stones and petrol bombs were met with tear gas. The protesters tried to hold their defence lines, burning tyres on the barricades and more anti-government activists were said to be on their way to join the camp. | As police gained ground in the Maidan, stones and petrol bombs were met with tear gas. The protesters tried to hold their defence lines, burning tyres on the barricades and more anti-government activists were said to be on their way to join the camp. |
| By morning, the BBC's Daniel Sandford said police had taken control of a corner of the square. | By morning, the BBC's Daniel Sandford said police had taken control of a corner of the square. |
| The protests began in late November, when President Yanukovych rejected a landmark association and trade deal with the EU in favour of closer ties with Russia. | The protests began in late November, when President Yanukovych rejected a landmark association and trade deal with the EU in favour of closer ties with Russia. |
| Tensions had begun to subside as recently as Monday, when protesters ended their occupation of government buildings in return for an amnesty from prosecution. | Tensions had begun to subside as recently as Monday, when protesters ended their occupation of government buildings in return for an amnesty from prosecution. |
| But violence erupted outside parliament on Tuesday morning as government supporters blocked opposition attempts to scale back the president's constitutional powers. They argued more time was needed to discuss the proposals. | But violence erupted outside parliament on Tuesday morning as government supporters blocked opposition attempts to scale back the president's constitutional powers. They argued more time was needed to discuss the proposals. |
| Correspondents say it was unclear what sparked the clashes, with each side blaming the other. | Correspondents say it was unclear what sparked the clashes, with each side blaming the other. |
| Protesters accused pro-government agents provocateurs, known as "titushki", of inciting some of the violence while the government said radical Right Sector supporters were involved. | Protesters accused pro-government agents provocateurs, known as "titushki", of inciting some of the violence while the government said radical Right Sector supporters were involved. |
| Fighting spread to surrounding streets and police launched a first attack on Independence Square on Tuesday evening. | Fighting spread to surrounding streets and police launched a first attack on Independence Square on Tuesday evening. |
| The number of dead on both sides has climbed to 26 and it is feared the death toll could increase. | |
| 'Crossed the line' | 'Crossed the line' |
| Opposition leaders Vitaly Klitschko and Arseniy Yatsenyuk met President Yanukovych for late night talks but failed to come to an agreement. | Opposition leaders Vitaly Klitschko and Arseniy Yatsenyuk met President Yanukovych for late night talks but failed to come to an agreement. |
| In a statement broadcast on TV news channels on Wednesday morning, President Yanukovych said: "The opposition leaders have disregarded the principle of democracy according to which one obtains power not on the streets or maidans - but through elections. | In a statement broadcast on TV news channels on Wednesday morning, President Yanukovych said: "The opposition leaders have disregarded the principle of democracy according to which one obtains power not on the streets or maidans - but through elections. |
| "They have crossed the line by calling for people to take up arms." | "They have crossed the line by calling for people to take up arms." |
| He warned that those responsible for violence would face the law. | He warned that those responsible for violence would face the law. |
| But the president added that there was a "better and more effective way" to solve the crisis, through dialogue and compromise. | But the president added that there was a "better and more effective way" to solve the crisis, through dialogue and compromise. |
| "It is not too late to stop the conflict," he said. | "It is not too late to stop the conflict," he said. |
| Russia accused opposition protesters of trying to engineer a "violent takeover of power". | Russia accused opposition protesters of trying to engineer a "violent takeover of power". |
| President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said responsibility for the escalation of violence lay "specifically with extremists" whose actions could be seen as "an attempted coup d'etat". | President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said responsibility for the escalation of violence lay "specifically with extremists" whose actions could be seen as "an attempted coup d'etat". |
| He refused to answer questions about when a second bailout instalment, promised by Moscow on Monday, would be released. Russia's $15bn (£9bn) bailout was seen as a reward for Mr Yanukovych's decision in November to pull out of the EU association deal. | |
| After a turbulent night, Kiev's Independence Square was relatively quiet during the morning although the clashes had resumed by Wednesday afternoon. | After a turbulent night, Kiev's Independence Square was relatively quiet during the morning although the clashes had resumed by Wednesday afternoon. |
| Riot police fired stun grenades and used water cannon while protesters responded with stones and petrol bombs. | Riot police fired stun grenades and used water cannon while protesters responded with stones and petrol bombs. |
| There have been reports of unrest breaking out elsewhere in Ukraine, including the western cities of Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk and Ternopil. | There have been reports of unrest breaking out elsewhere in Ukraine, including the western cities of Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk and Ternopil. |
| Opposition leaders urged protesters overnight to stand firm, and called on Ukrainians elsewhere to come to the square. | Opposition leaders urged protesters overnight to stand firm, and called on Ukrainians elsewhere to come to the square. |
| "This is an island of freedom and we will defend it," said Vitaly Klitschko, the leader of the Udar (Punch) party. | "This is an island of freedom and we will defend it," said Vitaly Klitschko, the leader of the Udar (Punch) party. |
| Mr Yatsenyuk, who heads the Fatherland party, appealed to President Yanukovych to "stop the bloodshed and call a truce". | Mr Yatsenyuk, who heads the Fatherland party, appealed to President Yanukovych to "stop the bloodshed and call a truce". |
| One unifying Ukrainian voice emerged from the Winter Olympics in Sochi in the form of former pole vault champion Sergei Bubka. | One unifying Ukrainian voice emerged from the Winter Olympics in Sochi in the form of former pole vault champion Sergei Bubka. |
| Now head of Ukraine's Olympic Committee, he urged all sides to halt the violence that "puts our country on the brink of catastrophe". | Now head of Ukraine's Olympic Committee, he urged all sides to halt the violence that "puts our country on the brink of catastrophe". |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
| Read the terms and conditions | Read the terms and conditions |