Many killed in deadly clashes in Ukraine

Thousands of police armed with stun grenades and water cannons charged into the large opposition camp in Ukraine’s capital of Kiev that has been the epicenter of nearly three months of anti-government protests after at least 14 people were killed in street clashes Tuesday.

Riot police advanced toward protesters late Tuesday after shutting down nearby subway stations, The Associated Press reported.

Some 20,000 protesters had filled Independence Square earlier in the day, sensing that Ukraine’s political crisis was reaching a critical turning point.

Police officials said 14 people, including six police officers, were confirmed dead in the clashes. Ukrainian officials said 159 police and military officers have been sent to hospitals with injuries, including 39 of them with gunshot wounds.

Demonstrators torched vehicles and threw stones with authorities responding with rubber bullets and smoke grenades, often while singing the Ukrainian national anthem, according to the Associated Press.

Riot police also advanced toward Independence Square, which has been the focal point of 12 weeks of unrest against President Viktor Yanukovych.

Ukrainian opposition lawmaker Lesya Orobets said in a Facebook post that three bodies had been found in a building near the country’s parliament with seven more people seriously injured.

Protests erupted on Nov. 21 when Yanukovych opted for a Russian bailout rather than a trade deal with the European Union. Protests started out largely peaceful, but have become increasingly characterized by violence between riot police and far-right groups.

18.02.2014
SOURCE: http://www.nbcnews.com