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| Ukraine's capital Kiev gripped by huge pro-EU demonstration | Ukraine's capital Kiev gripped by huge pro-EU demonstration |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets in the Ukrainian capital Kiev seeking the resignation of the government for refusing a deal on closer ties with the European Union. | Hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets in the Ukrainian capital Kiev seeking the resignation of the government for refusing a deal on closer ties with the European Union. |
| Protesters, who oppose a customs union with Russia, toppled a statue of Lenin and smashed it with hammers. | |
| President Viktor Yanukovych has said he shelved the EU deal after Russian opposition. | |
| Protest leaders have given him 48 hours to dismiss the government. | |
| As darkness fell, protesters were blockading key government buildings with cars, barricades and tents. | |
| Witnesses said a group of protesters toppled the statue of Soviet leader Lenin at the top of Shevchenko's Boulevard using metal bars and ropes and then began smashing it up with hammers. | |
| Others stood by chanting "glory to Ukraine". | |
| Correspondents say the statue has symbolic importance as it underlines Ukraine's shared history with Russia. | |
| 'A razor's edge' | |
| In another development on Sunday, the Ukrainian Security Service said it was investigating some politicians on suspicion of what it called "actions aimed at seizing state power". | In another development on Sunday, the Ukrainian Security Service said it was investigating some politicians on suspicion of what it called "actions aimed at seizing state power". |
| It did not name the politicians. | It did not name the politicians. |
| Amid rising tensions, the European Commission said EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton would travel to Ukraine this week "to support a way out of the political crisis". | Amid rising tensions, the European Commission said EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton would travel to Ukraine this week "to support a way out of the political crisis". |
| Waving EU and Ukrainian flags, protesters on Sunday congregated on Kiev's Independence Square - the scene of previous clashes with police. | Waving EU and Ukrainian flags, protesters on Sunday 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. | 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". |
| "We are on a razor's edge between a final plunge into cruel dictatorship and a return home to the European community," Mrs Tymoshenko said in a message to the crowd read out by her daughter. | "We are on a razor's edge between a final plunge into cruel dictatorship and a return home to the European community," Mrs Tymoshenko said in a message to the crowd read out by her daughter. |
| "Don't give in, not a step back, don't give up, the future of Ukraine is in your hands," the message read. | "Don't give in, not a step back, don't give up, the future of Ukraine is in your hands," the message read. |
| Another opposition leader, Oleh Tyahnybok, said: "It's not just a simple revolution. It's a revolution of dignity." | Another opposition leader, Oleh Tyahnybok, said: "It's not just a simple revolution. It's a revolution of dignity." |
| Opposition MP Serhiy Pashynskyy said that "starting from today and until our demands are met, the government quarter will be blocked with protest rallies". | Opposition MP Serhiy Pashynskyy 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. |
| A smaller pro-government rally was held close to the opposition march. Police separated the rival protesters. | A smaller pro-government rally was held close to the opposition march. Police separated the rival protesters. |
| Energy dispute | Energy dispute |
| Both Russia and Ukraine denied that the issue of Kiev joining the customs union along with Belarus and Kazakhstan came up during the Putin-Yanukovych meeting in Sochi, in southern Russia, on Friday. | |
| 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. |
| "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. |
| 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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