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            Ukrainian Police Move Against Protesters in Central Kyiv

   Hundreds of Ukrainian police began storming a protest encampment in
   central Kyiv early Wednesday, clashing with anti-government
   demonstrators and ripping down their makeshift tent city.
   Witnesses quoted by Reuters said a Ukrainian singer on stage at the
   huge encampment used a loudspeaker to urge police not to carry out
   their orders and not to harm protesters.
   The U.S. State Department issued a statement expressing "disgust" with
   the actions of Ukrainian authorities for introducing bulldozers and
   riot police armed with batons to the scene, rather than, in the words
   of Secretary of State John Kerry, "respect for democratic rights and
   human dignity."
   Kerry said in the statement that "respect for democratic principles,
   including freedom of assembly" is fundamental to the United States`
   approach to Ukraine. He said these values are universal, not just
   American. He called for "utmost restraint" and said human life must be
   protected.
   The crackdown unfolded hours after European Union foreign policy chief
   Catherine Ashton and U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland
   met in the capital with senior government and opposition leaders in a
   push to ease the crisis. Later, Ashton walked through the square to
   view the protests and speak with reporters.
   Earlier Tuesday, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych met with three
   former Ukrainian presidents, launching so-called round table talks
   reportedly aimed at the same objective.
   The protests began in late November, after the Ukrainian president
   backed away from a long-anticipated trade deal with the European Union,
   in favor of repairing and improving economic and political ties with
   Russia.
   In a nationally televised address Tuesday following his meeting with
   his predecessors, Mr. Yanukovych called for the release of protesters
   arrested after a violent police crackdown November 30. He said good
   relations with both Russia and the European Union are necessary to
   protect the country`s interests.
   Moscow is seeking to form a trade bloc of former Soviet republics and
   satellite countries to rival the European Union, and has in recent
   months exerted strong economic pressure on its impoverished neighbor to
   scuttle the EU deal.
   Earlier this year, it imposed restrictions on goods from Ukraine,
   cutting Ukrainian exports by 25 percent and dragging the country into
   recession.
   Russia is Ukraine`s largest foreign investor, trading partner and chief
   natural gas supplier. Moscow is reported to be dangling a deal with
   Ukraine that includes a $9 billion annual discount on gas pipeline
   shipments.
   Analysts say Kyiv, which has also secured recent investment deals with
   China, still needs about $18 billion in outside help to pay government
   debt and meet energy payments to Russia by early 2014.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/ukrainian-police-move-against-protest
   ers-in-central-kyiv/1807810.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/ukrainian-police-move-against-protesters-in-central-kyiv/1807810.html