Protesters clashes with police at Ukraine rally
- 10 years ago
ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION)
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.
The clashes broke out after opposition politicians called on people to disregard the new legislation that bans rallies which have convulsed the former Soviet republic for two months.
Boxer-turned-politician Vitaly Klitschko, a main opposition leader and speaker at the rally, went to the scene of the clashes about 100 meters from Kiev's Independence Square, and sought to persuade protesters to refrain from attacking police.
Protesters, however, continued to shower fireworks and other objects on riot police, who protected themselves with shields. As darkness fell, smoke bombs sent up clouds of smoke over the area, but many people trying to break through police lines had withdrawn.
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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.
The clashes broke out after opposition politicians called on people to disregard the new legislation that bans rallies which have convulsed the former Soviet republic for two months.
Boxer-turned-politician Vitaly Klitschko, a main opposition leader and speaker at the rally, went to the scene of the clashes about 100 meters from Kiev's Independence Square, and sought to persuade protesters to refrain from attacking police.
Protesters, however, continued to shower fireworks and other objects on riot police, who protected themselves with shields. As darkness fell, smoke bombs sent up clouds of smoke over the area, but many people trying to break through police lines had withdrawn.
T