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| Ukraine crisis: At least 21 dead as fresh clashes erupt in Kiev | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| At least twenty-one Ukraine protesters have reportedly died as police appeared to fire live rounds at anti-government demonstrators embroiled in fresh clashes this morning in a third day of violence. | |
| Eyewitness told Reuters they had seen 21 bodies near the main protest camp. Dozens of protesters have been using the lobby of a hotel as a triage centre to treat the wounded. | |
| Witnesses have reported live rounds being fired, although it is not yet known from which side. Protesters have been throwing petrol bombs and police have been responding with water cannons. and tear gas. | |
| President Viktor Yanukovich has released a statement accusing protesters of "going on the offensive" and "working in organised groups". | President Viktor Yanukovich has released a statement accusing protesters of "going on the offensive" and "working in organised groups". |
| "They are using firearms, including sniper rifles" the statement said. "They are shooting to kill. The number of dead and injured among police officers is dozens." | "They are using firearms, including sniper rifles" the statement said. "They are shooting to kill. The number of dead and injured among police officers is dozens." |
| The Ukrainian skier Bogdana Matsotska announced she will be withdrawing from the Olympics in response to the violence in her country, with her father saying she did so in "solidarity with the fighters." | The Ukrainian skier Bogdana Matsotska announced she will be withdrawing from the Olympics in response to the violence in her country, with her father saying she did so in "solidarity with the fighters." |
| TV pictures showed protesters seizing back Independence Square and surging forward into areas that were on Wednesday occupied by riot police after a day of violence. | TV pictures showed protesters seizing back Independence Square and surging forward into areas that were on Wednesday occupied by riot police after a day of violence. |
| An anti-government protester shows a bullet after violence erupted in the Independence Square (Reuters) The French, German and Polish foreign ministers have not left Kiev today without seeing the President after the violence broke out, as previously reported by diplomatic sources. | An anti-government protester shows a bullet after violence erupted in the Independence Square (Reuters) The French, German and Polish foreign ministers have not left Kiev today without seeing the President after the violence broke out, as previously reported by diplomatic sources. |
| They had been preparing to hold crisis talks over the escalating violence in Ukraine an EU meeting in Brussels to determine whether to impose sanctions. "They are meeting him now," one diplomat said. | They had been preparing to hold crisis talks over the escalating violence in Ukraine an EU meeting in Brussels to determine whether to impose sanctions. "They are meeting him now," one diplomat said. |
| A statement from the Interior Ministry on Thursday said the gunfire appeared to be coming from the national music conservatory, which is on the edge of the downtown square housing an extensive protest tent camp. It did not say when the officers were wounded, but added that they were receiving treatment on Thursday. | A statement from the Interior Ministry on Thursday said the gunfire appeared to be coming from the national music conservatory, which is on the edge of the downtown square housing an extensive protest tent camp. It did not say when the officers were wounded, but added that they were receiving treatment on Thursday. |
| Fires continued to burn throughout the night in Independence Square, the main site of protests. | Fires continued to burn throughout the night in Independence Square, the main site of protests. |
| The EU talks come after Ukraine’s president had announced a truce with the opposition. | The EU talks come after Ukraine’s president had announced a truce with the opposition. |
| Protesters carry a wounded fellow protester President Barack Obama had warned “there will be consequences” for Ukraine if the violence continues, but expressed hope that the truce would hold. | Protesters carry a wounded fellow protester President Barack Obama had warned “there will be consequences” for Ukraine if the violence continues, but expressed hope that the truce would hold. |
| Responding cautiously to Mr Yanukovych’s statement, President Obama deemed the truce a “welcome step forward,” but said the White House would continue to monitor the situation closely to “ensure that actions mirror words.” | Responding cautiously to Mr Yanukovych’s statement, President Obama deemed the truce a “welcome step forward,” but said the White House would continue to monitor the situation closely to “ensure that actions mirror words.” |
| Most of the victims of the escalating violence died after swathes of central Kiev were transformed into fiery battlefields on Tuesday when police attacked the anti-government protest camps which have occupied Independence Square for nearly three months. | Most of the victims of the escalating violence died after swathes of central Kiev were transformed into fiery battlefields on Tuesday when police attacked the anti-government protest camps which have occupied Independence Square for nearly three months. |
| Mr Yanukovych declared Thursday a day of mourning for the dead. | Mr Yanukovych declared Thursday a day of mourning for the dead. |
| Opposition leader Vitali Klitschko, who along with two other leaders met the president late yesterday to discuss a truce, said the president assured them that police would not storm the protesters' encampment in Kiev's Independence Square, according to the Interfax news agency. | Opposition leader Vitali Klitschko, who along with two other leaders met the president late yesterday to discuss a truce, said the president assured them that police would not storm the protesters' encampment in Kiev's Independence Square, according to the Interfax news agency. |
| Mr Yanukovych said he and the opposition leaders had agreed to try to stabilise “the situation in the state in the interests of social peace” and to “stop the bloodshed”. | Mr Yanukovych said he and the opposition leaders had agreed to try to stabilise “the situation in the state in the interests of social peace” and to “stop the bloodshed”. |
| On Wednesday, EU ambassadors discussed a series of possible steps including asset freezes and travel bans in talks on Wednesday, even though some diplomats have doubts about the effectiveness of such sanctions. | On Wednesday, EU ambassadors discussed a series of possible steps including asset freezes and travel bans in talks on Wednesday, even though some diplomats have doubts about the effectiveness of such sanctions. |
| “The European Union will respond to the deterioration on the ground, including via targeted measures,” European Council President Herman Van Rompuy said in a statement, while holding out the possibility of trade and political agreement with Ukraine if it meets goals agreed on with the EU. | “The European Union will respond to the deterioration on the ground, including via targeted measures,” European Council President Herman Van Rompuy said in a statement, while holding out the possibility of trade and political agreement with Ukraine if it meets goals agreed on with the EU. |
| Late on Wednesday, Washington also imposed US visa bans on 20 Ukrainian government officials it considered “responsible for ordering human rights abuses related to political oppression,” a senior State Department official announced. | Late on Wednesday, Washington also imposed US visa bans on 20 Ukrainian government officials it considered “responsible for ordering human rights abuses related to political oppression,” a senior State Department official announced. |
| “These individuals represent the full chain of command we consider responsible for ordering the security forces to move against the protesters”, the official said. | “These individuals represent the full chain of command we consider responsible for ordering the security forces to move against the protesters”, the official said. |
| Additional reporting by Reuters and Associated Press | Additional reporting by Reuters and Associated Press |