UKRAINE: Clashes between protesters and riot police continue through the night near Kiev's main government headquarters with projectiles and petrol bombs thrown at police

Record ID: 322167

  • Title: UKRAINE: Clashes between protesters and riot police continue through the night near Kiev's main government headquarters with projectiles and petrol bombs thrown at police
  • Date: 22nd January 2014
  • Summary: KIEV, UKRAINE (JANUARY 22, 2014) (REUTERS) LINE OF RIOT POLICE WITH SHIELDS FACING OFF AGAINST PROTESTERS VARIOUS OF PETROL BOMBS BEING THROWN NEAR KIEV'S MAIN GOVERNMENT HEADQUARTERS PROTESTERS GATHERED WIDE OF PROTESTERS FACING OFF AGAINST POLICE / PETROL BOMB BEING THROWN MORE OF POLICE FACING OFF AGAINST PROTESTERS POLICE BEHIND RIOT SHIELDS VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS CLOSE
  • Embargoed: 6th February 2014 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Ukraine
  • Country: Ukraine
  • Topics: Crime,General,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA7CMI2PRXJVPB02J3GP8CY1UH3
  • Story Text: Clashes between Ukrainian protesters and riot police continued in the early hours of Wednesday (January 22), with petrol bombs being thrown near Kiev's main government headquarters.
    On Tuesday (January 21), Russia warned European governments to stop meddling in Ukraine's political crisis and said events could be spinning out of control in Kiev after violence that left vehicles burning in the streets.
    Moscow, which sees its fellow former Soviet republic as part of its traditional sphere of influence, has watched nervously as protests against President Viktor Yanukovich's decision to shun a trade pact with the European Union have turned violent.
    Scores of police and demonstrators have been hurt since Yanukovich, who received a multi-billion-dollar bailout package from Moscow after he spurned the EU deal, angered opponents by signing sweeping laws to curb public protests.
    Early on Wednesday morning, the protesters showed no signs of backing down. Several hundred anti-government activists remained near the main government headquarters - the centre of recent confrontations - a few meters away from the rows of police. Protesters, many wearing helmets and gas masks, seemed determined to fight to the end.
    The violence, the worst civil unrest anyone could remember in post-war Kiev, stemmed from a rally on Sunday (January 19) attended by more than 100,000 people in defiance of a court ban.
    Despite opposition calls for only peaceful action, the rally descended into violence when masked youths broke away and tried to march on parliament before being stopped by police.
    In the ensuing clashes, more than 60 police were injured, with 40 being taken to hospital, police said. Kiev's medical services said about 100 civilians had sought medical attention.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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