Ukraine explodes in violence

KIEV, Ukraine — Weeks of calm were shattered Tuesday when protesters clashed with police outside parliament over the delay of a reform bill, leaving several dead and the police promising "severe measures" if demonstrations do not halt. Government troops attacked a protest camp and fired stun grenades and gunshots at thousands of marchers, killing at least nine people, said opposition lawmaker Lesya Orobets. Six police officers have been killed as well, says the government. The pop of grenades could be heard and clouds of tear gas and smoke from burning cars and trucks filled the streets. Tents from the camp were set on fire. "This is crazy, it's like a real war – they are going to kill each other," said protester Liudmila Mazur, 50, as she watched about 100 protesters attack a police barricade that blocked the way to parliament. "I don't know if there is another way now as the government understands only force. When we were protesting peacefully, they didn't hear us. I just hope people won't get hurt," Mazur said.

 The clash began after parliament delayed Tuesday's session scheduled to take up the issue of constitutional reform that would limit presidential powers. Thousands of people marched toward the parliament building to put pressure on lawmakers, shouting, "Shame!" The violence followed a compromise reached over the weekend in which protesters agred to vacate a city hall they had occupied for more than two months in exchange for the release of jailed protesters. Ukrainian authorities issued an ultimatum threatening "severe measures." "If the troubles here don't stop by 6 p.m., we will be obliged to restore order by any legal means," the government stated. "This is the most dramatic period in the history of Ukraine since independence," opposition leader Arseni Jazenjuk said. "The Ukrainian people are fighting for their freedom and liberty and we will fight until victory."
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/02/18/ukraine-opposition-protests-kiev/5575711/