Months of demonstrations against Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich's decision to abandon an EU integration pact have snarled the country in a political crisis. Last week, tough anti-protest legislation was rushed through parliament, which political opponents say paves the way for a police state. In response, hundreds of thousands of protesters gathered in central Kiev, swelling the ranks of those already camping in Independence Square, and demonstrations turned violent. Bloody clashes took place between police and protesters yesterday, leaving more than 200 people wounded. The standoff continued into this morning, with no immediate resolution in sight.
Renewed Protest in Ukraine
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Read moreA pro-European protester throws a stone during clashes with Ukrainian riot police in Kiev, on January 19, 2014. Protesters attacked riot police with sticks in Kiev on Sunday and tried to overturn a bus blocking their path to parliament, as up to 100,000 Ukrainians massed in defiance of sweeping new laws aimed at stamping out anti-government demonstrations. #
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Read morePro-European integration protesters sing an anthem during a rally near government administration buildings in Kiev, on January 20, 2014. #
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Read moreBarricades and protesters' tents in Independence Square in Kiev, where the pro-EU demonstrators held a rally on January 17, 2014. #
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Read moreProtesters attack riot police in central Kiev, on January 19, 2014. A group of radical activists began attacking riot police with sticks, trying to push their way toward the Ukrainian parliament building, which has been cordoned off by rows of police vehicles and buses. #
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Read moreA pro-European integration protester stands on a barricade with a national flag during a rally in Kiev, on January 20, 2014. #
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Read moreA woman watches riot police officers protecting themselves from protesters during an opposition rally in the center Kiev, in a show of defiance against strict new curbs on protests, on January 19, 2014. #
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Read moreOpposition leader and former WBC heavyweight boxing champion Vitaly Klitschko (center) speaks to protesters during a pro-European integration rally in Kiev, on January 19, 2014. #
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Read moreVitaly Klitschko is attacked and sprayed with a fire extinguisher as he tries to stop the clash between police and protesters in Kiev, on January 19, 2014. #
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Read moreVitaly Klitschko, after being attacked and sprayed with a fire extinguisher as he tried to stop clashes between police and protesters in Kiev, on January 19, 2014. #
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Read morePro-European integration protesters attack a police van during a rally near government administration buildings in Kiev, on January 19, 2014. #
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Read moreA protester throws a stone at Ukrainian riot police in Kiev, on January 19, 2014. #
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Read moreProtesters with both improvised shields and shields taken from riot police prepare to clash with police in Kiev, on January 19, 2014. #
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Read moreUkrainian riot police take cover during clashes with pro-European integration protesters in Kiev, on January 19, 2014. #
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Read moreProtesters clash with Ukrainian riot police during a rally near government administration buildings in Kiev, on January 19, 2014. #
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Read moreA protester stands next to a bus in flames as protesters clash with riot police in Kiev, on January 19, 2014. #
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Read moreRiot police react after being hit by a petrol bomb in Kiev, on January 19, 2014. #
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Read moreA protester throws a Molotov cocktail towards a burning police car, during clashes with police in Kiev, on January 20, 2014. #
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Read moreBurned police vehicles, after a rally of pro-European integration protesters in Kiev, on January 20, 2014. #
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Read moreUkrainian riot police take cover behind their shields in front of a burned bus during a continued protest near government administration buildings in Kiev, on January 20, 2014. #
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Read moreA protester sits in a burned police bus in Kiev, on January 20, 2014. #
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Read moreA bare chested man waves a Ukrainian flag during clashes between the opposition and police in Kiev, on January 20, 2014. #
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Read moreProtesters clash with police in Kiev, on January 20, 2014. Protesters erected barricades from charred vehicles and other materials in central Kiev as the sound of stun grenades was heard in the freezing air as police try to quell anti-government street protests. #
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Read moreProtesters clash with police in Kiev, on January 20, 2014. #
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Read moreA protester prepares to throw a Molotov cocktail during clashes with the police in Kiev, on January 20, 2014. EU foreign ministers deplored violent protests in Kiev, saying the government was at fault for passing a package of repressive laws in an effort to tame pro-EU demonstrations. #
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Read moreProtesters clad in improvised protective gear prepare for a battle with police in Kiev, on January 20, 2014. After a night of vicious streets battles, anti-government protesters and police clashed anew Monday in the Ukrainian capital Kiev. #
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Read moreA pro-European integration protester aims his air gun towards riot police during clashes in Kiev, on January 20, 2014. #
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Read moreUkrainian Riot police officers shoot rubber bullets and throw a stun grenade at anti-government protesters, on January 20, 2014. #
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Read moreProtesters run away from tear gas in the center of the Ukrainian capital Kiev, on January 20, 2014. #
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Read moreA protester displays rubber bullets and pellets used by police during clashes in Kiev, on January 20, 2014. #
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Read moreA protester reacts after being injured by a rubber bullet during unrest in central Kiev, Ukraine, on Monday, January 20, 2014. #
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Read morePro-European integration protesters carry Molotov cocktails during clashes with police in Kiev, on January 20, 2014. #
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Read moreA stun grenade explodes amid protesters in Kiev, Ukraine, on January 20, 2014. After a night of vicious streets battles, anti-government protesters and police clashed anew Monday. Hundreds of protesters, many wearing balaclavas, hurled rocks and stun grenades and police responded with tear gas. #
AP Photo/Sergei Grits
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