At least 25 dead as clashes continue in Kiev

At least 25 dead as clashes continue in Kiev

241 other people have been injured.

Fresh clashes broke out in downtown Kiev during the morning. RT reports that protesters are burning tires and throwing Molotov cocktails at the police, who are responding with stun grenades and rubber bullets in a bid to disperse them.

Meanwhile, the police took control of nearly half of the square.

Last night, no agreement was reached between Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and opposition leaders. Vitaly Klitschko said that he spoke with Yanukovych, who told him that security forces will not withdraw from the square.

According to Reuters, in the early morning hours masked protesters were arriving to the central square, where they prepared for a second day of clashes. However, foreign reporters said their numbers were lower than yesterday.

Meanwhile, the riots have spread to at least three cities in the western part of the country.

RIA Novosti quoted the leader of the Ukrainian opposition, Klitschko, as saying: "Yanukovych said that there is only one option... and that is to clear Maidan (Independence Square) and for everyone to go home."

"Yanukovych's reaction to this situation is totally inadequate, he is only talking about the opposition calling on people to stop resisting and put down their weapons."

On the other hand, Yanukovych said that the opposition leaders demanded to take over full power without elections, and noted this was unconstitutional.

"I have repeatedly told them that elections are getting near. If people trust you, the power will be on your side, otherwise it will not. But this has to come legally, in accordance with the Constitution of Ukraine," the president said.

Yanukovych also addressed the nation calling on opposition leaders to distance themselves from extremists because he would otherwise, "talk to them differently."

"They ignore the basic principles of democracy. They crossed the line when they called on people to take up arms. This is a blatant violation of the law. Some of my advisers are trying to convince me to apply force, but I always think that's the wrong approach," said Yanukovych.

Meanwhile, reports came that masked gunmen during the night shot and killed a Ukrainian journalists while he was returning home in Kiev. Vyacheslav Veremei was a reporter for the pro-government Russian language daily Vesti.

During the day on Tuesday, footage appeared on the internet that shows demonstrators using weapons.

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church has called on the authorities and the opposition to dialogue in order to top the violence that had, as they said, brought the country to the brink of catastrophe.

Concerned Western governments have demanded restraint and dialogue.