Accessibility links

Breaking News

One Reported Dead in Ukraine Clashes


Witnesses in the Ukrainian capital say one person has been killed in new clashes between anti-government protesters and security officials.

Reports say the police were trying to dismantle a protest camp in Kyiv Wednesday and fired tear gas at demonstrators, who responded by hurling stones and homemade explosives at police.

On Tuesday, Ukrainian prime minister Mykola Azarov warned the protesters that authorities might use force. Mr. Azarov told Russia's Vesti 24 television that if those he called "provocateurs" did not stop inciting clashes, officials would have no other choice.

The number of injured protesters reached the hundreds by Tuesday, when the anti-government protesters marched through Kyiv for a third straight day. They are protesting President Viktor Yanukovych's November decision to back out of a trade deal with the European Union in favor of closer ties with Russia.



The marchers are also upset over laws recently enacted that tighten restrictions on protests.

Mr. Yanukovych has offered to meet with opposition leaders.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday the situation in Ukraine is "spinning out of control." Lavrov said Tuesday that Russia is doing everything it can to help "stabilize the situation" without meddling in Ukrainian domestic affairs.

In Washington, the U.S. Broadcasting Board of Governors expressed outrage for the bloody police attacks on dozens of journalists in Kyiv, including RFE/RL reporter Dmytro Barkar and cameraman Ihor Iskhakov. They were covering the protests on Monday when they were beaten and struck on the head by members of the elite Berkut police force.
XS
SM
MD
LG