More than 5 dead as protesters clash with Ukraine cops
20 Feb 2014 4:48 AM IST
Ukrainian riot police advanced on the heart of 12-week-old protests against President Viktor Yanukovich on Tuesday and security forces set a deadline to end disturbances after at least five protesters were reported killed in a day of clashes. Forces loyal to the Russian-backed leader broke through front-line barricades near the Dynamo Kiev soccer stadium and marched to the edge of occupied Independence Square hours after Moscow gave Ukraine $2 billion in aid it had been holding back to demand decisive action to crush the pro-European protests.
Clashes raged for several hours outside the parliament building, where opposition lawmaker Lesya Orobets said three demonstrators were killed and taken to a nearby officers’ club used as a medical centre. More than 100 people were injured, she said. ‘Three bodies of our supporters are in the building. Another seven are close to dying (because of wounds),’ she said on her Facebook page.
Two more bodies were lying in front of a Metro station on the southeastern side of Independence Square, a photographer said. The casualty reports could not be independently confirmed.
The State Security Service (SBU), in a joint statement with the interior ministry, set protesters a 6 pm (1600 GMT) deadline to end street disorder or face ‘tough measures’.
Clashes raged for several hours outside the parliament building, where opposition lawmaker Lesya Orobets said three demonstrators were killed and taken to a nearby officers’ club used as a medical centre. More than 100 people were injured, she said. ‘Three bodies of our supporters are in the building. Another seven are close to dying (because of wounds),’ she said on her Facebook page.
Two more bodies were lying in front of a Metro station on the southeastern side of Independence Square, a photographer said. The casualty reports could not be independently confirmed.
The State Security Service (SBU), in a joint statement with the interior ministry, set protesters a 6 pm (1600 GMT) deadline to end street disorder or face ‘tough measures’.
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