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Ukraine truce frays ahead of EU talks in Kiev Ukraine protests: Five dead in Kiev as EU talks cancelled
(35 minutes later)
Anti-government protesters are again clashing with police in Kiev, despite a truce agreed between the Ukrainian president and opposition leaders. At least five people have been killed in renewed clashes between police and protesters in central Kiev after a truce agreed on Wednesday broke down.
Some live rounds have been fired but it is not clear by whom. Protesters are throwing petrol bombs, while police are using water cannon.Some live rounds have been fired but it is not clear by whom. Protesters are throwing petrol bombs, while police are using water cannon.
Three European Union foreign ministers are in Kiev for talks before an EU meeting to discuss possible sanctions. Three European Union foreign ministers who had travelled to Kiev for talks with President Viktor Yanukovych flew out without seeing him.
The health ministry says the death toll in protests this week has risen to 28. The EU will discuss sanctions later.
Fires burned at the main protest camp, the Maidan, through the night. On Thursday morning, BBC journalists there said some live rounds had been fired and one wounded person was being treated. The BBC's Kevin Bishop, in Kiev, saw five dead bodies in the reception area of the Hotel Ukraine, which all foreign media in the city are using as a base.
Two armoured vehicles have been seen in the street leading towards the square. Several dozen protesters are using the lobby as a triage centre for wounded, and a priest has just arrived, our correspondent says.
Protesters - some of them armed - are asking hotel guests for blankets to use as bandages.
Earlier, two armoured vehicles were seen in the street leading towards the Maidan, the centre of the protests in Kiev.
The foreign ministers of Germany, Poland and France were supposed to meet Mr Yanukovych and then hold talks with opposition leaders.
However, they cancelled their meetings and flew to Brussels without seeing anyone, for "security reasons", officials said.
A full meeting of EU foreign ministers and EU foreign police envoy Catherine Ashton will take place later on Thursday.
Sanctions on Ukraine are likely to be discussed, including a possible ban on sales of equipment that can be used for internal repression.
Thursday has been declared a day of mourning for the dead.Thursday has been declared a day of mourning for the dead.
Most of the victims died during clashes on Tuesday - the bloodiest day since the unrest erupted in late November.Most of the victims died during clashes on Tuesday - the bloodiest day since the unrest erupted in late November.
In other developments:In other developments:
Visa bansVisa bans
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his counterparts from France and Poland, Laurent Fabius and Radoslaw Sikorski, are expected to meet President Yanukovych and other government officials on Thursday morning.
The EU ministers will also hold separate talks with the opposition.
Ahead of the Kiev visit, Mr Fabius called the warring sides to "return to dialogue", condemning the violence as "unacceptable".
"Perpetrators of these acts cannot go without sanctions."
The three ministers will then fly to Brussels for a crisis meeting with EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and other EU foreign ministers.
They will consider whether to impose sanctions, which could include a ban on sales of equipment which can be used for internal repression.
The Ukrainian opposition has been long pressing the EU and US to impose sanctions against senior government officials believed to be responsible for the violence against protesters.The Ukrainian opposition has been long pressing the EU and US to impose sanctions against senior government officials believed to be responsible for the violence against protesters.
The EU has so far refrained from such a move, preferring to stress dialogue and compromise.The EU has so far refrained from such a move, preferring to stress dialogue and compromise.
Meanwhile, the US state department announced on Wednesday it had imposed visa bans on 20 members of Ukraine's government.Meanwhile, the US state department announced on Wednesday it had imposed visa bans on 20 members of Ukraine's government.
A senior state department said all those were civilians whom Washington held responsible for the violence. The official declined to provide any names.A senior state department said all those were civilians whom Washington held responsible for the violence. The official declined to provide any names.
'Protect human life''Protect human life'
Announcing the truce on late on Wednesday, the presidential statement said it was agreed to "start negotiations aimed at stopping the bloodshed, stabilising the situation in the country and achieving social peace".Announcing the truce on late on Wednesday, the presidential statement said it was agreed to "start negotiations aimed at stopping the bloodshed, stabilising the situation in the country and achieving social peace".
It did not give details of what the truce would entail or how it would be implemented.It did not give details of what the truce would entail or how it would be implemented.
The opposition leaders present at the talks were Arseniy Yatsenyuk and also boxer-turned-politician Vitali Klitschko and far-right party leader Oleh Tyahnybok.The opposition leaders present at the talks were Arseniy Yatsenyuk and also boxer-turned-politician Vitali Klitschko and far-right party leader Oleh Tyahnybok.
Mr Yatsenyuk confirmed the deal had been reached, saying in a statement on his Fatherland party website that "the main thing is to protect human life".Mr Yatsenyuk confirmed the deal had been reached, saying in a statement on his Fatherland party website that "the main thing is to protect human life".
The media wing of Vitali Klitschko's Udar party said the next round of negotiations with President Yanukovych would resume later on Thursday.The media wing of Vitali Klitschko's Udar party said the next round of negotiations with President Yanukovych would resume later on Thursday.
But a BBC correspondent in Kiev, Daniel Sandford, has urged caution, pointing out that none of the hardcore protesters have so far attended talks with the president.But a BBC correspondent in Kiev, Daniel Sandford, has urged caution, pointing out that none of the hardcore protesters have so far attended talks with the president.
The news came after the most intense violence in Ukraine's three-month crisis turned Kiev into a battle zone between anti-government protesters and riot police.The news came after the most intense violence in Ukraine's three-month crisis turned Kiev into a battle zone between anti-government protesters and riot police.
The protests first erupted when President Yanukovych rejected a landmark association and trade deal with the EU in favour of closer ties with Russia.The protests first erupted when President Yanukovych rejected a landmark association and trade deal with the EU in favour of closer ties with Russia.
Since then, the protests spread across Ukraine, with the main demand of snap presidential and parliamentary elections.Since then, the protests spread across Ukraine, with the main demand of snap presidential and parliamentary elections.
Are you in Ukraine? Have you seen or taken part in any of the protests? Email your stories to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with the subject heading 'Ukraine'. Are you in Ukraine? Have you seen or taken part in any of the protests? Email your stories to haveyoursay@bbc.co.ukwith the subject heading 'Ukraine'.
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