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| Ukraine conflict: President announces early elections as violent clashes continue in Kiev | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Ukraine president has announced an agreement to hold early presidential elections after all night crisis talks with the opposition. | |
| Shots again began to ring out in Kiev's Independence Square and fights broke out among deputies in Ukraine's parliament this morning, despite the president's assurance that a peace deal had been reached with opposition leaders in overnight crisis talks. | Shots again began to ring out in Kiev's Independence Square and fights broke out among deputies in Ukraine's parliament this morning, despite the president's assurance that a peace deal had been reached with opposition leaders in overnight crisis talks. |
| President Viktor Yanukovich and the opposition are expected to sign an agreement brokered by the European Union to resolve Ukraine's crisis although the opposition still wants some changes, a senior EU diplomat said. | President Viktor Yanukovich and the opposition are expected to sign an agreement brokered by the European Union to resolve Ukraine's crisis although the opposition still wants some changes, a senior EU diplomat said. |
| The envoy gave no details except to say that the deal would set out plans for constitutional reforms to be carried out by September, Reuters news agency has reported. | The envoy gave no details except to say that the deal would set out plans for constitutional reforms to be carried out by September, Reuters news agency has reported. |
| Fighting broke out between deputies in Ukraine's parliament earlier when the speaker declared a pause, delaying a debate on a possible resolution calling for Mr Yanukovich's powers to be reduced. | Fighting broke out between deputies in Ukraine's parliament earlier when the speaker declared a pause, delaying a debate on a possible resolution calling for Mr Yanukovich's powers to be reduced. |
| Several deputies exchanged blows as chaos descended on the chamber for several minutes. The speaker, Yanukovich ally Volodymyr Rybak, then departed from the chamber but some of the deputies continued the debate. | Several deputies exchanged blows as chaos descended on the chamber for several minutes. The speaker, Yanukovich ally Volodymyr Rybak, then departed from the chamber but some of the deputies continued the debate. |
| Just hours after Mr Yanukovich announced the deal, more violence on the streets was reported. Ukraine police allegedly shot back when protesters opened fire opened fire on officers between the main protest square in Kiev and the parliament building. | Just hours after Mr Yanukovich announced the deal, more violence on the streets was reported. Ukraine police allegedly shot back when protesters opened fire opened fire on officers between the main protest square in Kiev and the parliament building. |
| "Participants in the mass disorder opened fire on police officers and tried to burst through in the direction of the parliament building," a police statement said. It did not say whether riot police had returned fire. | "Participants in the mass disorder opened fire on police officers and tried to burst through in the direction of the parliament building," a police statement said. It did not say whether riot police had returned fire. |
| The country's presidential press agency said that Mr Yanukovych reached the deal after yesterday became the bloodiest day of violence in the country's recent history. | The country's presidential press agency said that Mr Yanukovych reached the deal after yesterday became the bloodiest day of violence in the country's recent history. |
| It was not immediately clear who was firing the shots in the square, also known as the Maidan, but the country's interior ministry accused the opposition of breaking the shaky truce by shooting at police. | It was not immediately clear who was firing the shots in the square, also known as the Maidan, but the country's interior ministry accused the opposition of breaking the shaky truce by shooting at police. |
| A statement released early this morning said that the peace deal would be signed at noon local time (10am GMT) but gave no further details. The deal was not confirmed by the opposition or the three EU foreign ministers who had also been attending the negotiations. | A statement released early this morning said that the peace deal would be signed at noon local time (10am GMT) but gave no further details. The deal was not confirmed by the opposition or the three EU foreign ministers who had also been attending the negotiations. |
| Despite the presidential statement, a tweet from the Polish foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski had said that talks had broken down at 7.20am local time, with diplomatic sources telling Reuters that they had been "very difficult". | Despite the presidential statement, a tweet from the Polish foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski had said that talks had broken down at 7.20am local time, with diplomatic sources telling Reuters that they had been "very difficult". |
| The supposed deal came as the Ukrainian health ministry put the number of people killed in this week's violence at 77, though opposition activists say the figure is over 100. | The supposed deal came as the Ukrainian health ministry put the number of people killed in this week's violence at 77, though opposition activists say the figure is over 100. |
| Yanukovych was "going to make concessions in order to restore peace," Interfax Ukraine earlier quoted his spokeswoman Anna German as saying. | Yanukovych was "going to make concessions in order to restore peace," Interfax Ukraine earlier quoted his spokeswoman Anna German as saying. |
| Support for the president appeared to be weakening, as reports said the army's deputy chief of staff, Yury Dumansky, was resigning in "disagreement with the politics of pulling the armed forces into an internal civil conflict." Late on Thursday, the Ukrainian parliament passed a measure that would prohibit an "anti-terrorist operation" threatened by Yanukovych to restore order, and called for all Interior Ministry troops to return to their bases. | Support for the president appeared to be weakening, as reports said the army's deputy chief of staff, Yury Dumansky, was resigning in "disagreement with the politics of pulling the armed forces into an internal civil conflict." Late on Thursday, the Ukrainian parliament passed a measure that would prohibit an "anti-terrorist operation" threatened by Yanukovych to restore order, and called for all Interior Ministry troops to return to their bases. |
| But it was unclear how binding the move would be, as the mechanism for carrying it out would have to be developed by the president's office and the Interior Ministry. | But it was unclear how binding the move would be, as the mechanism for carrying it out would have to be developed by the president's office and the Interior Ministry. |
| This morning, several thousand protesters milled around Independence Square, known as the Maidan, which earlier this week was rocked by street battles between protesters and police. | This morning, several thousand protesters milled around Independence Square, known as the Maidan, which earlier this week was rocked by street battles between protesters and police. |
| No visible police forces remained on the square, and volunteers walked freely to the protest camps to donate food and other packages. The scene in Kiev's Independence Square on Friday morning | No visible police forces remained on the square, and volunteers walked freely to the protest camps to donate food and other packages. The scene in Kiev's Independence Square on Friday morning |
| Yanukovych and the opposition protesters are locked in a battle over the identity of Ukraine, a nation of 46 million that has divided loyalties between Russia and the West. Parts of the country — mostly in its western cities — are in open revolt against Yanukovych's central government, while many in eastern Ukraine back the president and favour strong ties with Russia, their former Soviet ruler. | Yanukovych and the opposition protesters are locked in a battle over the identity of Ukraine, a nation of 46 million that has divided loyalties between Russia and the West. Parts of the country — mostly in its western cities — are in open revolt against Yanukovych's central government, while many in eastern Ukraine back the president and favour strong ties with Russia, their former Soviet ruler. |
| Protesters across the country are also upset over corruption in Ukraine, the lack of democratic rights and the country's ailing economy, which just barely avoided bankruptcy with a $15 billion aid infusion from Russia. | Protesters across the country are also upset over corruption in Ukraine, the lack of democratic rights and the country's ailing economy, which just barely avoided bankruptcy with a $15 billion aid infusion from Russia. |
| In Brussels, the 28-nation European Union decided in an emergency meeting yesterday to impose sanctions against those behind the violence in Ukraine, including a travel ban and an asset freeze against some government officials. | In Brussels, the 28-nation European Union decided in an emergency meeting yesterday to impose sanctions against those behind the violence in Ukraine, including a travel ban and an asset freeze against some government officials. |
| The White House said US Vice President Joe Biden spoke by telephone with Yanukovych on Thursday afternoon and made clear that the US is prepared to sanction those officials responsible for the violence. | The White House said US Vice President Joe Biden spoke by telephone with Yanukovych on Thursday afternoon and made clear that the US is prepared to sanction those officials responsible for the violence. |
| Despite the violence, defiant protesters seemed determined to continue their push for Yanukovych's resignation and early presidential and parliamentary elections. | Despite the violence, defiant protesters seemed determined to continue their push for Yanukovych's resignation and early presidential and parliamentary elections. |
| "The price of freedom is too high. But Ukrainians are paying it," Viktor Danilyuk, a 30-year-old protester, said yesterday. "We have no choice. The government isn't hearing us." | "The price of freedom is too high. But Ukrainians are paying it," Viktor Danilyuk, a 30-year-old protester, said yesterday. "We have no choice. The government isn't hearing us." |
| Yesterday was the deadliest day yet at the sprawling protest camp in Kiev. Snipers were seen shooting at protesters there, and video footage showed at least one sniper wearing a Ukraine riot police uniform. | Yesterday was the deadliest day yet at the sprawling protest camp in Kiev. Snipers were seen shooting at protesters there, and video footage showed at least one sniper wearing a Ukraine riot police uniform. |
| One of the wounded, volunteer medic Olesya Zhukovskaya, sent out a brief Twitter message — "I'm dying" — after she was shot in the neck. Dr Oleh Musiy, the medical coordinator for the protesters, said she was in serious condition after undergoing surgery. | One of the wounded, volunteer medic Olesya Zhukovskaya, sent out a brief Twitter message — "I'm dying" — after she was shot in the neck. Dr Oleh Musiy, the medical coordinator for the protesters, said she was in serious condition after undergoing surgery. |
| Opposition protesters build barricades overnight | Opposition protesters build barricades overnight |
| Musiy told The Associated Press that at least 70 protesters were killed on Thursday and over 500 were wounded in the clashes. | Musiy told The Associated Press that at least 70 protesters were killed on Thursday and over 500 were wounded in the clashes. |
| In addition, three policemen were killed Thursday and 28 suffered gunshot wounds, Interior Ministry spokesman Serhiy Burlakov told the AP. | In addition, three policemen were killed Thursday and 28 suffered gunshot wounds, Interior Ministry spokesman Serhiy Burlakov told the AP. |
| A statement on the website of the Health Ministry said 77 people had been killed between Tuesday morning, when the violence began, and this morning. The statement said 577 people had been wounded and 369 hospitalized. | A statement on the website of the Health Ministry said 77 people had been killed between Tuesday morning, when the violence began, and this morning. The statement said 577 people had been wounded and 369 hospitalized. |
| There was no way to immediately verify any of the death tolls. | There was no way to immediately verify any of the death tolls. |
| French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, along with his German and Polish counterparts, said after a five-hour meeting with Yanukovych and another with opposition leaders that they discussed new elections and a new government, but gave no details. The three resumed meeting with Yanukovych late last night. | French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, along with his German and Polish counterparts, said after a five-hour meeting with Yanukovych and another with opposition leaders that they discussed new elections and a new government, but gave no details. The three resumed meeting with Yanukovych late last night. |
| Video footage on Ukrainian television showed shocking scenes yesterday of protesters being cut down by gunfire, lying on the pavement as comrades rushed to their aid. | Video footage on Ukrainian television showed shocking scenes yesterday of protesters being cut down by gunfire, lying on the pavement as comrades rushed to their aid. |
| Protesters were also seen leading policemen, their hands held high, around the sprawling protest camp in central Kiev. The Interior Ministry said 67 police were captured in all. An opposition politician said they were being held in Kiev's occupied city hall. | Protesters were also seen leading policemen, their hands held high, around the sprawling protest camp in central Kiev. The Interior Ministry said 67 police were captured in all. An opposition politician said they were being held in Kiev's occupied city hall. |
| Interior Ministry members in plain-clothes are escorted out of Independence Square | Interior Ministry members in plain-clothes are escorted out of Independence Square |
| German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke with Russia's President Vladimir Putin and President Barack Obama about the crisis yesteday evening. All three leaders agreed that a political solution needs to be found as soon as possible to prevent further bloodshed. | German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke with Russia's President Vladimir Putin and President Barack Obama about the crisis yesteday evening. All three leaders agreed that a political solution needs to be found as soon as possible to prevent further bloodshed. |
| Saying the US was outraged by the violence, Obama urged Yanukovych in a statement to withdraw his forces from downtown Kiev immediately. He also said Ukraine should respect the right of protest and that protesters must be peaceful. | Saying the US was outraged by the violence, Obama urged Yanukovych in a statement to withdraw his forces from downtown Kiev immediately. He also said Ukraine should respect the right of protest and that protesters must be peaceful. |
| The US State Department on Thursday issued a statement warning citizens "to defer all non-essential travel to Ukraine due to the ongoing political unrest." | The US State Department on Thursday issued a statement warning citizens "to defer all non-essential travel to Ukraine due to the ongoing political unrest." |
| The Kremlin issued a statement with Putin blaming radical protesters and voicing "extreme concern about the escalation of armed confrontation in Ukraine." | The Kremlin issued a statement with Putin blaming radical protesters and voicing "extreme concern about the escalation of armed confrontation in Ukraine." |
| The Russian leader called for an immediate end to bloodshed and for steps "to stabilize the situation and stop extremist and terrorist actions." He also sent former Russian ombudsman Vladimir Lukin to Ukraine to act as a mediator. | The Russian leader called for an immediate end to bloodshed and for steps "to stabilize the situation and stop extremist and terrorist actions." He also sent former Russian ombudsman Vladimir Lukin to Ukraine to act as a mediator. |
| Russia appeared increasingly frustrated with Yanukovych's inability to find a way out of the crisis. | Russia appeared increasingly frustrated with Yanukovych's inability to find a way out of the crisis. |
| Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said Russia will "try to do our best" to fulfill its financial obligations to Ukraine, but indicated Moscow would hold back on further bailout installments until the crisis is resolved. | Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said Russia will "try to do our best" to fulfill its financial obligations to Ukraine, but indicated Moscow would hold back on further bailout installments until the crisis is resolved. |
| "We need partners that are in good shape and a Ukrainian government that is legitimate and effective," he said. | "We need partners that are in good shape and a Ukrainian government that is legitimate and effective," he said. |
| Additional reporting by the Associated Press | Additional reporting by the Associated Press |