This article is from the source 'washpo' 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.washingtonpost.com/world/kiev-explodes-into-chaos-at-least-25-reported-dead-in-ukraine-protests/2014/02/19/aacecc60-9967-11e3-b88d-f36c07223d88_story.html?wprss=rss_world
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Ukraine leader seems to vacillate as U.S., E.U. weigh action | Ukraine leader seems to vacillate as U.S., E.U. weigh action |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| KIEV, Ukraine – Hints of turmoil within the government arose Wednesday as a day and night of fighting that left at least 26 people dead slackened to a standoff on the streets, and U.S. and E.U. leaders condemned the violence. | KIEV, Ukraine – Hints of turmoil within the government arose Wednesday as a day and night of fighting that left at least 26 people dead slackened to a standoff on the streets, and U.S. and E.U. leaders condemned the violence. |
| As fires continued to burn on the Maidan, or Independence Square, forming a buffer of flame and thick greasy smoke between skirmishing protesters and police, the Security Service of Ukraine announced that it was launching an “anti-terrorist operation.” A little while later, the Defense Ministry said it may join in. | As fires continued to burn on the Maidan, or Independence Square, forming a buffer of flame and thick greasy smoke between skirmishing protesters and police, the Security Service of Ukraine announced that it was launching an “anti-terrorist operation.” A little while later, the Defense Ministry said it may join in. |
| [Watch live video from Kiev] | [Watch live video from Kiev] |
| But with Russia suggesting that Tuesday’s violence constituted an attempted coup and an escalation on the part of the government appearing imminent, President Viktor Yanukovych fired his chief military commander Wednesday evening. And the security service, the SBU, said it was making preparations for an anti-terrorist operation but had not put it into effect, according to the Interfax news agency. | But with Russia suggesting that Tuesday’s violence constituted an attempted coup and an escalation on the part of the government appearing imminent, President Viktor Yanukovych fired his chief military commander Wednesday evening. And the security service, the SBU, said it was making preparations for an anti-terrorist operation but had not put it into effect, according to the Interfax news agency. |
| Small but violent protests left several people wounded – and one reported dead – in Khmelnitsky and Odessa, the Black Sea port. | Small but violent protests left several people wounded – and one reported dead – in Khmelnitsky and Odessa, the Black Sea port. |
| In eastern Donetsk, Yanukovych’s home town, and Kharkov, governors talked tough about defeating the protests. | In eastern Donetsk, Yanukovych’s home town, and Kharkov, governors talked tough about defeating the protests. |
| But the city of Lviv in western Ukraine effectively declared itself autonomous from the rule of the central government. In nearby Ivano-Frankivsk, the local commander of the security forces pledged not to carry out any illegal orders. | But the city of Lviv in western Ukraine effectively declared itself autonomous from the rule of the central government. In nearby Ivano-Frankivsk, the local commander of the security forces pledged not to carry out any illegal orders. |
| The Russian foreign ministry, which backs Yanukovych, said the events of Tuesday were an attempted coup by the opposition, and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called on Western countries to use their influence with the opposition to force it into negotiations with the government. | The Russian foreign ministry, which backs Yanukovych, said the events of Tuesday were an attempted coup by the opposition, and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called on Western countries to use their influence with the opposition to force it into negotiations with the government. |
| But the White House and European Union strongly criticized Yanukovych on Wednesday, blaming him for the violence. | But the White House and European Union strongly criticized Yanukovych on Wednesday, blaming him for the violence. |
| President Obama, who embarked on a trip to Mexico on Wednesday for a meeting with his Mexican and Canadian counterparts, had warnings for both Yanukovych and protest leaders. | President Obama, who embarked on a trip to Mexico on Wednesday for a meeting with his Mexican and Canadian counterparts, had warnings for both Yanukovych and protest leaders. |
| “I want to be very clear as we work through these next several days in Ukraine that we’re going to be watching closely and we expect the Ukrainian government to show restraint, to not resort to violence in dealing with peaceful protestors,” Obama said. “We’ve also said we expect peaceful protestors to remain peaceful, and we’ll be monitoring very closely the situation, recognizing that with our European partners and the international community there will be consequences if people step over the line.” | “I want to be very clear as we work through these next several days in Ukraine that we’re going to be watching closely and we expect the Ukrainian government to show restraint, to not resort to violence in dealing with peaceful protestors,” Obama said. “We’ve also said we expect peaceful protestors to remain peaceful, and we’ll be monitoring very closely the situation, recognizing that with our European partners and the international community there will be consequences if people step over the line.” |
| E.U. Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso on Wednesday expressed “shock and utter dismay” over the “violence and use of excessive force,” which he blamed on Ukraine’s “political leadership.” He said he expects the E.U. to agree on “targeted measures against those responsible.” | E.U. Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso on Wednesday expressed “shock and utter dismay” over the “violence and use of excessive force,” which he blamed on Ukraine’s “political leadership.” He said he expects the E.U. to agree on “targeted measures against those responsible.” |
| The Swedish foreign minister, Carl Bildt, said Yanukovych “has blood on his hands.” | The Swedish foreign minister, Carl Bildt, said Yanukovych “has blood on his hands.” |
| Bildt said Ukraine would have been on its way to a better future by now, with a trade agreement with the E.U., were it not for threats from Moscow. | Bildt said Ukraine would have been on its way to a better future by now, with a trade agreement with the E.U., were it not for threats from Moscow. |
| “It is a dark day in Europe,” he said. | “It is a dark day in Europe,” he said. |
| The foreign ministers of Poland, Germany and France intend to travel here Thursday to hold talks about the continuing crisis, and then to Brussels for an E.U. meeting to consider targeted sanctions against Ukrainian officials. | The foreign ministers of Poland, Germany and France intend to travel here Thursday to hold talks about the continuing crisis, and then to Brussels for an E.U. meeting to consider targeted sanctions against Ukrainian officials. |
| “No one wants Ukraine to descend into chaos/choice is in President Yanukovich’s hands,” tweeted Secretary of State John F. Kerry. | “No one wants Ukraine to descend into chaos/choice is in President Yanukovich’s hands,” tweeted Secretary of State John F. Kerry. |
| The United States is urging the Ukrainian government to withdraw riot police from Independence Square, call a truce with the protesters and hold talks with opposition leaders, deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes told reporters traveling with Obama aboard Air Force One on Wednesday. He said the latest scenes of violence in Kiev “were completely outrageous and have no place in the 21st century.” | The United States is urging the Ukrainian government to withdraw riot police from Independence Square, call a truce with the protesters and hold talks with opposition leaders, deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes told reporters traveling with Obama aboard Air Force One on Wednesday. He said the latest scenes of violence in Kiev “were completely outrageous and have no place in the 21st century.” |
| Authorities said 800 people have been injured, and of the 26 killed, 10 are interior ministry troops. | Authorities said 800 people have been injured, and of the 26 killed, 10 are interior ministry troops. |
| [READ: Could this become civil war?] | |
| There have been guarded expression of unease within the ruling Party of Regions over the turn of events. Ukraine is without a prime minister a month after Mykola Azarov was forced from office. Rinat Akhmetov, an oligarch once very close to Yanukovych, has called for an end to violence by both sides. | There have been guarded expression of unease within the ruling Party of Regions over the turn of events. Ukraine is without a prime minister a month after Mykola Azarov was forced from office. Rinat Akhmetov, an oligarch once very close to Yanukovych, has called for an end to violence by both sides. |
| If an “anti-terrorist” campaign unfolds, it is not clear what it will entail or how effectively it could be carried out nationwide. Government officials say hardline protesters have stolen 1,500 firearms during the three months of demonstrations, and have used them against police. A special operation would presumably give the SBU the authority to seize people and property without court orders for a specified period of time. | If an “anti-terrorist” campaign unfolds, it is not clear what it will entail or how effectively it could be carried out nationwide. Government officials say hardline protesters have stolen 1,500 firearms during the three months of demonstrations, and have used them against police. A special operation would presumably give the SBU the authority to seize people and property without court orders for a specified period of time. |
| The defense ministry denied that armored units were moving toward Kiev. Paratroop battalions have been reported being deployed, but to guard defense ministry sites, not to take part in an attack on civilian protesters, officials said. | The defense ministry denied that armored units were moving toward Kiev. Paratroop battalions have been reported being deployed, but to guard defense ministry sites, not to take part in an attack on civilian protesters, officials said. |
| Yanukovych, echoing the Russians, has said the prime political leaders of the opposition must disassociate themselves from the hardline right-wingers among the protesters who have done most of the fighting with police. | Yanukovych, echoing the Russians, has said the prime political leaders of the opposition must disassociate themselves from the hardline right-wingers among the protesters who have done most of the fighting with police. |
| The helmeted young militants of the group that calls itself Pravy Sektor have without question complicated the role of the more moderate political leaders – and in important ways helped to set the opposition agenda. | The helmeted young militants of the group that calls itself Pravy Sektor have without question complicated the role of the more moderate political leaders – and in important ways helped to set the opposition agenda. |
| But the opposition politicians have been careful not to have a falling-out with their most committed wing. | But the opposition politicians have been careful not to have a falling-out with their most committed wing. |
| In a joint statement by the three main opposition parties, they said they were not responsible for Tuesday’s deadly violence. | In a joint statement by the three main opposition parties, they said they were not responsible for Tuesday’s deadly violence. |
| “We have never called and never will call people to pick up arms,” it said. “This is our principled stance. The death of any person is a personal tragedy for each one of us.” | “We have never called and never will call people to pick up arms,” it said. “This is our principled stance. The death of any person is a personal tragedy for each one of us.” |
| The statement called on Yanukovych to enforce a complete cease-fire and withdraw Interior troops from around the Maidan. | The statement called on Yanukovych to enforce a complete cease-fire and withdraw Interior troops from around the Maidan. |
| “Yanukovych must finally realize that there is an uprising in the country against him personally caused by all his policies during the time of his four-year term,” the statement said. “People driven to despair demand not simply the dismissal of Yanukovych but his trial.” | “Yanukovych must finally realize that there is an uprising in the country against him personally caused by all his policies during the time of his four-year term,” the statement said. “People driven to despair demand not simply the dismissal of Yanukovych but his trial.” |
| In Sochi, Russia, the Ukrainian Olympic team asked IOC officials if they could wear black armbands in mourning over the deaths here, but the request was turned down. | In Sochi, Russia, the Ukrainian Olympic team asked IOC officials if they could wear black armbands in mourning over the deaths here, but the request was turned down. |
| William Branigin in Washington contributed to this report. | William Branigin in Washington contributed to this report. |