Kiev clashes claim at least 26

President declares day of mourning, blames demonstrators for deaths

As thick black smoke rose from the barricades encircling the protest camp in central Kiev on Wednesday, the Ukrainian president blamed opposition leaders for new clashes between riot police and protesters that left at least 26 people dead and 241 injured.

Thousands of protesters faced rows of riot police who had squeezed them deeper into the capital city's Independence Square, known as the Maidan, which has been a bastion for protesters, after overnight clashes that set buildings on fire and brought sharp rebuke from both the West and Russia.

The violence on Tuesday was the worst in nearly three months of anti-government protests that have paralyzed Kiev in a struggle over the identity of a nation of divided loyalties between Russia and the West.

The protests began in late November after President Viktor Yanukovych turned away from a long-anticipated deal with the European Union in exchange for a $15 billion bailout from Russia. The political maneuvering continued ever since, with both Moscow and the West eager to gain influence over the country.

The latest bout of street violence began on Tuesday when protesters attacked police lines and set fires outside parliament, accusing Yanukovych of ignoring their demands to enact constitutional reforms that would limit the president's power - a key opposition demand. Parliament, dominated by his supporters, stalled on taking up a constitutional reform to limit presidential powers.

In the evening police attacked the protest camp. Armed with water cannons, stun grenades and rubber bullets, police dismantled some barricades and took part of the Maidan, but the protesters still held their ground through the night.

On Wednesday morning, the center of Kiev was cordoned off by police, the subway was shut down and most shops on Kiev's main street were closed. But hundreds of Ukrainians still flocked to the opposition camp, some wearing balaclavas and armed with bats, others, in everyday clothes and with makeup on, carrying food to protesters.

A group of young men and women poured petrol into plastic bottles, preparing fire bombs, while a volunteer walked past them distributing ham sandwiches to protesters from a tray. Another group of activists was busy crushing the pavement into pieces and loading the rubble into bags to fortify barricades.

After Tuesday's violence, Olesya Kravchuk, a 34-year-old Kiev resident, decided not to go to work on Wednesday.

Living nightmare

"I heard gunshots at home yesterday, and, from the news, I knew some people died. I feel so sorry for my people," she said.

People had to walk hours to get home after work on Tuesday, as the city's public transportation has been shut down, she said. "Because of all the fires in the city, I had trouble breathing when I was walking home yesterday."

In November, Kravchuck, for the first time, stood in the square with the protesters. "I stood there for my rights. I thought our president would pay attention and hear us," she said.

But the increasing tensions in the city made her feel frustrated and scared. "I didn't go to the square yesterday. At first I had that idea, but then I remembered that I am the only person my mom has and I went home," she said.

Like many people in the city, she feels her life has turned into a nightmare since the bloody fighting began.

"I wish I could wake up tomorrow and forget everything that happened to my nation. I know that those who died will never be with us again. This makes me cry when I am watching the news," she added.

Yanukovych announced on Wednesday a national "day of mourning" for Thursday, blaming the protesters for the violence and saying the opposition leaders "crossed a line when they called people to arms".

Zhao Yanrong in Beijing contributed to this story.

AP-AFP-China Daily

(China Daily 02/20/2014 page10)