Ukrainian president, opposition talk after deadly clashes

Protesters throw tires in a fire as they clash with police in central Kiev, Ukraine. Photo: AP

Kiev, Ukraine: With as many as five protesters dead, talks that opened on Wednesday afternoon between President Viktor Yanukovych and the three main leaders of the political opposition are likely to be the last chance to head off a nation-shaking physical confrontation.

Aggressive riot police had put the centre of Kiev, with its many thousands of protesters, in a state of considerable tension. Sporadic conflict continued all day outside Dynamo Stadium as protesters, led by a right-wing splinter group, refused to give ground to Interior Ministry troops.

At stake is the future of this country, torn between Russia and Europe, and riven by anger over the corruption and brutality of Mr Yanukovych's government. For two months, a partnership of pro-Europe liberals, die-hard nationalists, and critics of the ruling family and its circle of oligarchs has carried out a protracted campaign of protest, almost all of it peaceful. That moment could be nearing an end.

The opposition movement's medical service said five of its activists had been killed and four of them had been reportedly found with gunshot wounds. Prosecutors have so far confirmed two deaths. The activists' deaths shocked and energised the legions of protesters, who again turned out on Wednesday evening. One of the victims was shot four times, medics said. Police denied they had used firearms, though during the day they could be seen aiming rifles. The dead are being portrayed as martyrs to the Yanukovych regime.

The politicians broke off after three hours, and the opposition leaders later delivered angry avowals of their determination to oust Mr Yanukovych but said they planned to meet again on Thursday.

'If the president does not go forward' toward a peaceful resolution, said Vitali Klitschko, head of the opposition UDAR party, 'tomorrow we'll go on the offensive.'

The two sides have just 24 hours to prevent bloodshed, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, of the opposition Fatherland party, said Wednesday night after he left the president's office. 'After that, if I get bullet in my head, then so be it,' he said.

'We're going to kick the authorities out. We're going to win and have the new Ukraine that we deserve,' said Oleh Tiahnybok, head of the nationalist Svoboda party, who also took part.

The police denied that they had fired on the protesters, though they could be clearly seen aiming rifles during the day.

All told, hundreds of injuries have been reported, on both sides.

The US Embassy in Kiev announced that it has revoked the visas of Ukrainians it deems responsible for the violence here.

'Increased tensions in Ukraine are a direct consequence of the Ukrainian government's failure to engage in real dialogue and the passage of anti-democratic legislation on January 16,' the US State Department said.

Washington Post