Police move on protest camp near key Kiev site

  Huge numbers of police are approaching the barricades of the protest camp

 

Thousands of police have moved on a large protest camp in the centre of the Ukrainian capital.
 Kiev Police tried to break through barricades close to the main opposition site on Independence Square. A stand-off has developed after scuffles broke out between security forces and protesters.

The government's decision to withdraw from a free-trade deal with the EU last month has sparked huge street rallies by protesting citizens. The latest police action comes after EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton held talks with President Viktor Yanukovych on Monday. She was cheered by crowds when she visited Kiev's main protest site.

Riot police and interior ministry officers dismantled some outer barriers but met resistance from opposition supporters. There are unconfirmed reports that police have begun storming the Kiev city hall, seized by protesters just over a week ago.

Protesters stand on top of the barricades are police press forward

  A priest speaks to riot police as they block pro-European Union activists in Independence Square

Demonstrators have been huddling around fires to keep warm
 

 A "sea of police" are surrounding Independence Square, seemingly waiting to move on the main camp there. Protesters have been pouring water onto the icy ground to make it too slippery for the police to advance.

The police have been pushing up against the barricades, while demonstrators are standing on top of the barriers. Protesters were shouting "Fascists" and "Kiev wake up". Images and videos have showed people in the square singing Ukraine's national anthem. A priest appealed to the riot police not to obey what he called "criminal orders", Ukraine's Hromadske.tv reported.

President Yanukovych said on Monday that government officials could visit Brussels this week to resume talks on the EU association agreement. But his statement only came after hundreds of thousands of protesters turned out in Kiev on Sunday, demanding the resignation of the government within 48 hours. It proves the power of the people when they stand together.

Several people were hurt on Monday night as riot police advanced on protesters, dismantling a number of barricades in the centre of the capital. Government buildings have been blockaded with cars, barricades and tents.

The numbers of armed riot police are excessive and do not bode well for the demonstrators. I hope  the next thing we hear is not about police brutality and injured or killed citizens.