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| Ukraine's capital Kiev gripped by huge pro-EU demonstration | Ukraine's capital Kiev gripped by huge pro-EU demonstration |
| (about 17 hours 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. | 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 because it would put trade with Russia at risk. | President Viktor Yanukovych has said he shelved the EU deal because it would put trade with Russia at risk. |
| Protest leaders have given him 48 hours to dismiss the government. | 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. | 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 Boulevard using metal bars and ropes. Then they began smashing it up with hammers. | Witnesses said a group of protesters toppled the statue of Soviet leader Lenin at the top of Shevchenko Boulevard using metal bars and ropes. Then they began smashing it up with hammers. |
| Others stood by chanting "glory to Ukraine". | Others stood by chanting "glory to Ukraine". |
| Correspondents say the statue has symbolic importance as it underlines Ukraine's shared history with Russia. | Correspondents say the statue has symbolic importance as it underlines Ukraine's shared history with Russia. |
| One opposition MP, Andriy Shevchenko, tweeted: "Goodbye, Communist legacy!" | One opposition MP, Andriy Shevchenko, tweeted: "Goodbye, Communist legacy!" |
| Prime Minister Mykola Azarov compared the toppling of the statue to the Taliban's destruction of the giant Buddhas of Bamiyan in Afghanistan in 2001, Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported. | Prime Minister Mykola Azarov compared the toppling of the statue to the Taliban's destruction of the giant Buddhas of Bamiyan in Afghanistan in 2001, Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported. |
| "War on monuments is always barbarity," he said. | "War on monuments is always barbarity," he said. |
| The BBC's David Stern says the attack on the statue has heightened tension in Kiev. | The BBC's David Stern says the attack on the statue has heightened tension in Kiev. |
| 'A razor's edge' | '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. |
| The European Commission has said EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton will travel to Ukraine this week "to support a way out of the political crisis". | The European Commission has said EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton will 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". |
| Analysts say that although the protests were sparked by President Yanukovych's U-turn on the EU deal, many on the streets want rid of what they believe is a corrupt system. | Analysts say that although the protests were sparked by President Yanukovych's U-turn on the EU deal, many on the streets want rid of what they believe is a corrupt system. |
| 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 with police separating the two. | A smaller pro-government rally was held close to the opposition march with police separating the two. |
| 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. | 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. |