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Ukraine has seen its deadliest day of violence since anti-government protests began, with fierce clashes bringing new intensity to a political crisis that has festered in Kiev since late November.
At least 11 demonstrators and seven police officers were killed in street battles in the Ukrainian capital, with hundreds more injured and several of the dead suffering gunshot wounds.
The violence continued through the night as the security forces tried to force their way into the protest camp in Kiev's Independence Square and surrounding buildings.
The city's trade union building, which had been used as an opposition base, was set on fire and snipers were reported to be deliberately targeting protest leaders who took to a stage to rally supporters. Opposition leader Aleksandr Turchinov was among those said to have been shot as he stood on the stage, but it was unclear how seriously he was hurt.
In pictures: Ukraine uprisingShow all 100 1 /100In pictures: Ukraine uprising In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine People light candles during a religious service at a church in Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine A child lights a candle on a makeshift memorial to anti-government protesters killed in the past weeks' clashes with riot police on Kiev's Independence Square
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Newly freed Ukrainian opposition icon Yulia Tymoshenko speaks at Independence Square moments after parliament voted to hold early presidential elections in May. Tymoshenko received a rapturous welcome on Independence Square. 'You are heroes, you are the best of Ukraine' she told the 50,000-strong crowd before breaking down in tears
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine People visit the Independence square in Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine People walk by barrycades and makeshift memorials to the victims of the riots in central Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine People lay flowers on the Independence Square in Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Maidan self-defence activists stand on an armored vehicle in central Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine People gather for prayers and to listen to speakers in Independence Square
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine A woman with a Ukrainian flag wrapped around her sholders looks on as she lights a candle at a makeshift memorial to anti-government protesters killed in the past weeks' clashes with riot police
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine The body of Ustim Holodnyuk (19) who was killed in fighting between anti-government protesters and police, is carried from Independence Square in Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine An anti-government protester injured during clashes with riot police receives medical care at a makeshift hospital in Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Protestors build a barricade at the Independent square in Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Anti-government protesters shout 'Glory to the Ukraine' as they man a barricade at Independence Square in Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine An anti-government demonstrator holds a burning tire as he build a barricade at the Independent square in Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine An anti-government demonstrator builds a barricade with burning tires at the Independent square in Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine An anti-government demonstrator throws a burning tire as he build a barricade at the Independent square in Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Anti-government protesters carry an injured man on a stretcher after clashes with riot police in the Independence Square in Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Protesters cheer while they managed to break police blockade in Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Anti-government protesters take cover while under fire from police snipers during clashes with riot police in central Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Protesters hold petrol bombs during clashes with police in Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Anti-government protesters carry an injured man on a stretcher after clashes with riot police in the Independence Square in Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Protesters walk on a puddle of blood left by a wounded demonstrator during clashes with the police in the center of Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine An anti-government protester holds a firearm as he mans a barricade on the outskirts of Independence Square in Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine An Otrthodox priest gestures after clashes between anti-government protesters and riot police in the Independence Square in Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine An elderly protester smokes during a break in clashes with police in central Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine A protestor carries food for demonstrators on the barricades during the face off against heavily-armed police in Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine An anti-government protester reacts following clashes with riot police in Independence Square in Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Two anti-government protesters use a large drum after violence erupted in the Independence Square in Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine A man plays the trumpet as anti-government protesters continue to clash with police in Independence square in Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Riot police fire at anti government demonstrators on the Independence square in Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Anti government demonstrators carry a wounded comrade during clashes with riot police on the Independence square in Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine A protester shouts slogans as he stands behind barricades during clashes with police in Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine A protester throws a petrol bomb as he stands behind barricades during clashes with police in Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Ukraine's embattled leader announced a 'truce' with the opposition as he prepared to get grilled by visiting EU diplomats over clashes that killed 26 and left the government facing diplomatic isolation
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Protesters burn as they stand behind burning barricades during clashes with police in Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Anti-government protesters continue to clash with police in Independence square, despite a truce agreed between the Ukrainian president and opposition leaders in Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine A protester sits on a statue while others stand on a barricade during clashes with police in Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Protesters carry a wounded protester during clashes with police, after gaining new positions near the Independence square in Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Protester carries bottles during the clashes with police in Independence square in Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Protesters walk and stand near a burning bus at the Institutskaya Street close to the central Independence Square in Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Protesters stand behind burning barricades during a face-off against police in Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Protesters escort a 'captured' policeman near Independence square in Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Violent clashes erupted in Kiev following renewed anti-government protests, with the death toll rising to 25
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine An anti-government protesters prays in Independence Square in Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Anti-government protester throws Molotov cocktail at the police in Independence Square in Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Injured anti-government protester at the Independence Square in Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Anti-government protesters in Independence Square in Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Anti-government protesters carry a roundwood as they gather in Independence Square in central Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine An anti-government protester looks on as smoke from a fire rises above Independence Square in central Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Protesters at the Independence Square in Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Ukrainian protesters poured on to a central Kiev square to confront police anew after the bloodiest day since the former Soviet republic, caught in a geopolitical struggle between Russia and the West, won its independence
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Interior Ministry officers walk in formation as smoke rises above Independence Square where anti-government protesters are holding a rally in central Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Smoke rises above Independence Square as clashes between anti-government protesters with Interior Ministry members and riot police continue in central Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine A trade union building is seen on fire in Independence Square in central Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Interior Ministry members and riot police block a street as anti-government protesters gather in front of them amidst heavy smoke during clashes in Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Ukrainian riot police take cover behind their shields during clashes with anti-government protesters near Independence Square in Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Ukrainian riot police stand in front of the fire ring around of the Independence Square during the continuing protest in downtown Kiev
EPA
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Flames engulfed the main anti-government protest camp on Independence Square as riot police
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Anti-government protesters clash with the police during their storming of Independence Square in Kiev
Sergei Supinsky/AFP/Getty Images
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Anti-government protesters clash with the police during their storming of Independence Square in Kiev. Flames engulfed the main anti-government protest camp on Kiev's Independence Square on Tuesday as riot police tried to force demonstrators out following the bloodiest clashes in three months of protests
Genya Savilov/AFP/Getty Images
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Monuments to Kiev's founders burn as anti-government protesters clash with riot police in Kiev's Independence Square
Efrem Lukatsky/AP
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Riot police storm Kiev's Independence Square
Efrem Lukatsky/AP
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Riot police storm Kiev's Independence Square, the epicenter of the country's current unrest
Efrem Lukatsky/AP
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Anti-government protesters clash with riot police in Kiev's Independence Square
Efrem Lukatsky/AP
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine An anti-government protester runs during clashes with riot police in Kiev's Independence Square
Efrem Lukatsky/AP
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Anti-government protesters clash with riot police in Kiev's Independence Square, the epicenter of the country's current unrest
Efrem Lukatsky/AP
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Ukrainians gather on the Independence Square during continuing protest in Kiev; smoke is visible in the sky, above the city
Igor Kovalenko/EPA
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Smoke from exploding fireworks and fires billows into the night sky as Ukrainians gather on the Independence Square during continuing protest in Kiev
Igor Kovalenko/EPA
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Police clash with anti-government protesters in Kiev. Police on Tuesday began an assault on the main anti-government protest camp in Kiev after a day of bloody clashes, AFP journalists at the scene said
Anatolii Boiko/AFP/Getty Images
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Anti-government demonstrators stand on barricades during clashes with riot police in Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine An opposition demonstrator holds a Molotov cocktail during clashes with police in Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Injured anti-government protesters look on a policeman during clashes with riot police outside Ukraine's parliament in Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Wounded people walk after clashes with riot police in central Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Anti-government female protesters help an injured comrade during clashes with riot police outside Ukraine's parliament in Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Injured anti-government protesters during clashes with riot police outside Ukraine's parliament in Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Anti-government protesters carry a wounded man during clashes with riot police in Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Opposition demonstrators evacuate a wounded protester during clashes with police in Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Red Cross workers give first aid to policemen wounded during clashes with anti-government protester in Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine An injured anti-government protester lies on the ground during clashes with riot police outside Ukraine's parliament in Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Interior ministry members take cover behind shields during clashes with anti-government protesters in Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Opposition demonstrators stand in front of burning barricades during clashes with police in Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Anti-government protesters clash with police in front of the Ukrainian Parliment in Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine A protester holds a makeshft shield in front of a burning car during clashes with police in Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Anti-government protesters shield themselves during clashes with riot police in central Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Interior Ministry members are on fire, caused by molotov cocktails hurled by anti-government protesters, as they stand guard during clashes in Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Protesters clash with riot police as a rainbow appears during continuing protests in downtown Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Anti-government protesters clashed violently with police in central Kiev, a day after Moscow moved to cement its influence over Ukraine with $2 billion in cash to shore up the former Soviet state's heavily indebted economy
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine People speak near a barricade on fire during clashes between anti-government protesters and Interior Ministry members in Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Two wounded policemen are guided to the ambulance cars during an anti-government protest in downtown Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Protesters take over the main office of the ruling Ukrainian 'Party of Regions' political party in downtown Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Anti-government protesters attempt to break a door inside an office of the pro-presidential Party of the Regions in Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine A protester inside the main office of the ruling Ukrainian Party of Regions political party in downtown Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine An anti-government protester dressed in Ukrainian national dress throws a stone during clashes with riot police outside Ukraine's parliament in Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Anti-government protesters gather by the entrance as they attack an office of the pro-presidential Party of the Regions in Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine A young anti-government protester looks on during clashes with police in front of the Ukrainian Parliment in Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine An anti-government protester wears a gas mask during clashes with Interior Ministry members in Kiev. Several thousand anti-government protesters clashed with police near Ukraine's parliament torching vehicles and hurling stones in the worst violence to rock the capital Kiev in more than three weeks
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Thousands of angry anti-government protesters clashed with police in a new eruption of violence following new maneuvering by Russia and the European Union to gain influence over this former Soviet republic
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine An anti-government protester threatens riot police outside Ukraine's parliament in Kiev
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine Protesters marched toward the parliament to demand constitutional reforms that would curb the powers of President Viktor Yanukovych. Ukraine has been mired in political crisis since November 2013 after the government backed away from a trade agreement with the European Union and signed a 15-billion-dollar loan deal with Russia instead
In pictures: Ukraine uprising Ukraine At least five anti-government protesters were killed and some 150 others injured in fresh clashes between police and demonstrators protesting near Ukraine's parliament building in Kiev
As the violence intensified US Vice President Joe Biden telephoned Ukraine's President Viktor Yanukovych to urge him to withdraw the government forces from Independence Square and to exercise restraint. He also emphasised the protesters had “legitimate grievances”.
“The vice president further underscored the urgency of immediate dialogue with opposition leaders to address protesters' legitimate grievances and to put forward serious proposals for political reform,” a White House spokesman said.
Two opposition leaders - Vitali Klitschko, the world champion boxer-turned-politician, and Arseniy Yatsenyuk, leader of Ukraine's largest opposition bloc - arrived late last night at President Yanukovych's office for talks.
Clashes had earlier erupted outside government buildings in the centre of the city after opposition leaders warned that security forces were planning to clear the sprawling protest camp in Independence Square, which is also known as the Maidan. Television footage showed anti-government protesters throwing petrol bombs, fireworks and rocks at riot police, and setting fire to piles of tyres to prevent officers from entering the Maidan, while hundreds of riot police used water cannons on advancing protesters in sub-zero temperatures.
Before heading to the President's office for talks, Klitschko, who heads the opposition party Udar (Punch), called on Yanukovych to resign and to call early elections. In an address to the 20,000 protesters estimated to be in Independence Square he vowed: “We will not go anywhere from here, This is an island of freedom and we will defend it.”
Yatsenyuk was similarly defiant: “We see that this regime again has begun shooting people; they want to sink Ukraine in blood. We will not give in to a single provocation. We will not take one step back from this square. We have nowhere to retreat to. Ukraine is behind us, Ukraine's future is behind us.”
Anti-government demonstrators stand on barricades during clashes with riot police in Kiev (Getty) (Getty Images) Despite the freezing conditions, dozens of tents have been set up in the square since the protests began in November, after Yanukovych spurned a historic trade and political agreement with European Union in favour of a £9bn financial bailout from Russia, used to balance the country's precarious finances. Russia had since frozen tranches of the aid amid behind-the-scenes pressure for Yanukovych to crush the protest movement.
Hundreds of thousands of people took the streets to demonstrate peacefully against the move, but the protests turned violent when the government introduced sweeping new legislation limiting basic freedoms in a bid to crush the opposition. Though it was later repealed, the opposition continues to push for early elections (due in 2015) and changes to the constitution.
The clashes came after Russia's Finance Minister offered to deliver another tranche of bailout funds on Monday, sparking fears that the move could pave the way for a Moscow loyalist as the new prime minister.
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