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Ukraine's capital Kiev gripped by huge pro-EU demonstration | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets in the Ukrainian capital seeking the resignation of the government which refused to sign a deal on closer ties with the European Union. | |
The protests, the latest in three weeks of unrest, come a day after talks between President Viktor Yanukovych and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. | |
Mr Yanukovych has said he shelved the EU deal after Russian opposition. | Mr Yanukovych has said he shelved the EU deal after Russian opposition. |
Mr Putin has been urging Ukraine to join a Russian customs union. | Mr Putin has been urging Ukraine to join a Russian customs union. |
Both sides denied that the issue of Kiev joining the customs union with Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan came up during the Putin-Yanukovych meeting in Sochi, in southern Russia. | Both sides denied that the issue of Kiev joining the customs union with Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan came up during the Putin-Yanukovych meeting in Sochi, in southern Russia. |
Correspondents had earlier speculated that an agreement on Ukraine joining the customs union might be reached in return for reduced energy prices. | Correspondents had earlier speculated that an agreement on Ukraine joining the customs union might be reached in return for reduced energy prices. |
The two neighbours have also been trying to resolve a long-running dispute over energy supplies. | The two neighbours have also been trying to resolve a long-running dispute over energy supplies. |
Ukraine depends on imports of Russian gas, but the supplier, Gazprom, has recently complained that Kiev had fallen behind in payments. | Ukraine depends on imports of Russian gas, but the supplier, Gazprom, has recently complained that Kiev had fallen behind in payments. |
Disputes over supplies to Ukraine before 2009 saw Gazprom temporarily cutting off supplies. | Disputes over supplies to Ukraine before 2009 saw Gazprom temporarily cutting off supplies. |
Pipelines passing through Ukraine also pump Russian gas to many EU member states. | Pipelines passing through Ukraine also pump Russian gas to many EU member states. |
Three conditions | Three conditions |
"Any signature to a deal on forming a new Soviet Union means the breakup of the country," said Arseniy Yatsenyuk, a prominent opposition member. | "Any signature to a deal on forming a new Soviet Union means the breakup of the country," said Arseniy Yatsenyuk, a prominent opposition member. |
Waving EU and Ukrainian flags, the protesters congregated on Kiev's Independence Square - the scene of previous clashes with police. | |
Ukraine's special police force, Berkut, has been widely condemned for beating protesters in the square - known as Maidan. | |
The opposition party of jailed former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko has urged people to "chase" the president "until he falls". | The opposition party of jailed former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko has urged people to "chase" the president "until he falls". |
An opposition MP says the movement has given President Yanukovych 48 hours to sack the government and arrest his interior minister. | |
Serhiy Pashynskyy also said that "starting from today and until our demands are met, the government quarter will be blocked with protest rallies". | |
The protests are the largest since the pro-democracy Orange Revolution in 2004. | The protests are the largest since the pro-democracy Orange Revolution in 2004. |
Protest leaders have set out three conditions for any negotiations with President Yanukovych: the resignation of his government, the release of protesters arrested during clashes in Kiev and the punishment of those responsible for beating demonstrators. | Protest leaders have set out three conditions for any negotiations with President Yanukovych: the resignation of his government, the release of protesters arrested during clashes in Kiev and the punishment of those responsible for beating demonstrators. |
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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