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Ukraine crisis: Kiev tense after 'bloodiest' clashes | Ukraine crisis: Kiev tense after 'bloodiest' clashes |
(35 minutes later) | |
Ukraine's capital Kiev remains tense following a day of clashes between protesters and police that left dozens of people dead and many wounded. | Ukraine's capital Kiev remains tense following a day of clashes between protesters and police that left dozens of people dead and many wounded. |
Activists at the main protest camp, the Maidan, have been manning the barricades overnight - but there were no reports of violence. | Activists at the main protest camp, the Maidan, have been manning the barricades overnight - but there were no reports of violence. |
Crisis talks are continuing with suggestions that President Viktor Yanukovych may agree to snap elections. | Crisis talks are continuing with suggestions that President Viktor Yanukovych may agree to snap elections. |
The EU decided to impose sanctions on officials "responsible for violence". | The EU decided to impose sanctions on officials "responsible for violence". |
In a statement on Thursday, EU foreign ministers said targeted sanctions against Ukrainian officials including asset freezes and visa bans would be introduced "as a matter of urgency". | In a statement on Thursday, EU foreign ministers said targeted sanctions against Ukrainian officials including asset freezes and visa bans would be introduced "as a matter of urgency". |
The US has warned Kiev that it would follow suit. | The US has warned Kiev that it would follow suit. |
Thursday was the bloodiest day since the unrest began in November, with many of the anti-government protesters were reportedly killed by police snipers. | Thursday was the bloodiest day since the unrest began in November, with many of the anti-government protesters were reportedly killed by police snipers. |
In all, 77 people - including policemen - have been killed since the violence first flared up on Tuesday, Ukraine's health ministry said. | |
Another 577 were injured. | |
Protesters had captured 67 police, the interior ministry said. A number of them were later released by activists. | Protesters had captured 67 police, the interior ministry said. A number of them were later released by activists. |
'Forces of peace v hawks' | 'Forces of peace v hawks' |
On Thursday, the foreign ministers of France, Poland and Germany conducted several hours of discussions with Mr Yanukovych on a "roadmap towards a political solution" before going on to talks with opposition leaders. | On Thursday, the foreign ministers of France, Poland and Germany conducted several hours of discussions with Mr Yanukovych on a "roadmap towards a political solution" before going on to talks with opposition leaders. |
They returned for another meeting with Mr Yanukovych in the evening and the talks continued late into the night. | They returned for another meeting with Mr Yanukovych in the evening and the talks continued late into the night. |
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that Mr Yanukovych had expressed willingness to hold early elections this year. | Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that Mr Yanukovych had expressed willingness to hold early elections this year. |
Mr Yanukovych's aide Hanna Herman was later quoted as saying that the president was ready to make concessions to "restore peace". | Mr Yanukovych's aide Hanna Herman was later quoted as saying that the president was ready to make concessions to "restore peace". |
She added that "forces of peace" among presidential advisers defeated the "hawks". | She added that "forces of peace" among presidential advisers defeated the "hawks". |
The snap presidential and parliamentary elections are one of the key demands by Maidan activists and opposition leaders. | The snap presidential and parliamentary elections are one of the key demands by Maidan activists and opposition leaders. |
Currently, the presidential poll is scheduled for next year. | Currently, the presidential poll is scheduled for next year. |
'Dismay' | 'Dismay' |
Also on Thursday, the statement from an emergency EU foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels said "no circumstances can justify the repression we are currently witnessing". | Also on Thursday, the statement from an emergency EU foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels said "no circumstances can justify the repression we are currently witnessing". |
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said the "prime responsibility" to get talks between the two sides under way lay with President Yanukovych. | EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said the "prime responsibility" to get talks between the two sides under way lay with President Yanukovych. |
She said ministers had expressed their "dismay" at the latest violence and had agreed to "suspend export licences for equipment for internal repression". | She said ministers had expressed their "dismay" at the latest violence and had agreed to "suspend export licences for equipment for internal repression". |
Implementation of the measures "will be taken forward in light of developments in Ukraine", she added. | Implementation of the measures "will be taken forward in light of developments in Ukraine", she added. |
The EU had until now refrained from imposing sanctions, preferring to emphasise dialogue and compromise. | The EU had until now refrained from imposing sanctions, preferring to emphasise dialogue and compromise. |
US Vice President Joe Biden also warned President Yanukovych in a telephone conversation that Washington was ready to impose sanctions against Ukrainian officials guilty of ordering troops to fire on protesters. | US Vice President Joe Biden also warned President Yanukovych in a telephone conversation that Washington was ready to impose sanctions against Ukrainian officials guilty of ordering troops to fire on protesters. |
The US state department had already announced visa bans on 20 members of the Ukrainian government but has not provided any names. | The US state department had already announced visa bans on 20 members of the Ukrainian government but has not provided any names. |
Live rounds | Live rounds |
Dozens of protesters were killed by security forces in Kiev on Thursday following the breakdown of a truce the previous day. | Dozens of protesters were killed by security forces in Kiev on Thursday following the breakdown of a truce the previous day. |
Activists and Maidan medics suggested the death toll could be as high as 100 and would rise further. | Activists and Maidan medics suggested the death toll could be as high as 100 and would rise further. |
A number of dead bodies of protesters killed on Thursday were brought to the Maidan (Independence Square), the BBC's Duncan Crawford in Kiev reports. | A number of dead bodies of protesters killed on Thursday were brought to the Maidan (Independence Square), the BBC's Duncan Crawford in Kiev reports. |
Assembled crowds shouted "Martyrs!" and "Heroes!", with some protesters in tears, our correspondent adds. | Assembled crowds shouted "Martyrs!" and "Heroes!", with some protesters in tears, our correspondent adds. |
Witnesses have told the BBC that some of those killed died as a result of single gunshot wounds, typical of sniper fire. | Witnesses have told the BBC that some of those killed died as a result of single gunshot wounds, typical of sniper fire. |
Video footage has emerged apparently showing snipers firing on demonstrators who had been trying to retake their protest camp in Independence Square. | Video footage has emerged apparently showing snipers firing on demonstrators who had been trying to retake their protest camp in Independence Square. |
The authorities said that one policeman had died, however an activist reported that as many 10 police officers had been killed. | The authorities said that one policeman had died, however an activist reported that as many 10 police officers had been killed. |
Officials said more than 20 policemen had also been injured. | Officials said more than 20 policemen had also been injured. |
Witnesses reported live rounds, petrol bombs and water cannon being used at Independence Square during Thursday morning's clashes. | Witnesses reported live rounds, petrol bombs and water cannon being used at Independence Square during Thursday morning's clashes. |
Some armed demonstrators were also reported to be firing towards security forces. | Some armed demonstrators were also reported to be firing towards security forces. |
Gunshots pierced the windows of rooms at the Ukraina Hotel, which is serving as the base for all foreign media in Kiev, including the BBC. | Gunshots pierced the windows of rooms at the Ukraina Hotel, which is serving as the base for all foreign media in Kiev, including the BBC. |
A statement on the presidential website blamed the opposition for starting the violence, saying the "calls for a truce and dialogue were nothing but a way of playing for time to mobilise and arm militants from Maidan". | A statement on the presidential website blamed the opposition for starting the violence, saying the "calls for a truce and dialogue were nothing but a way of playing for time to mobilise and arm militants from Maidan". |
MPs assembled for a session of parliament on Thursday afternoon voted to condemn the recent violence. | MPs assembled for a session of parliament on Thursday afternoon voted to condemn the recent violence. |
They also called for the use of weapons against protesters to be banned, and for troops and police deployed against them to be withdrawn. | They also called for the use of weapons against protesters to be banned, and for troops and police deployed against them to be withdrawn. |
The session was attended by 239 out of 450 MPs, most of them from opposition parties. But there were also dozens from the pro-Presidential Party of Regions. | The session was attended by 239 out of 450 MPs, most of them from opposition parties. But there were also dozens from the pro-Presidential Party of Regions. |
The protests first erupted 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 first erupted in late November when President Yanukovych rejected a landmark association and trade deal with the EU in favour of closer ties with Russia. |
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.uk with the subject heading 'Ukraine'. |
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. |
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