Protesters fire at police with fireworks, in central Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, Jan. 20, 2014. After a night of vicious streets battles, anti-government protesters and police clashed anew Monday in the Ukrainian capital Kiev. Hundreds of protesters, many wearing balaclavas, hurled rocks and police responded with tear gas. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)
January 20, 2014 - 11:21 PM
KYIV, Ukraine - Anti-government protesters have held their ground through a night of violent street clashes in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, despite police moving in to dismantle barricades erected in a street leading to government offices.
Police attempted to move in on the protest camp early Tuesday, but faced fierce resistance from demonstrators who tossed fire bombs and stones in their direction.
Police responded with stun grenades, tear gas and rubber bullets, and were able to dismantle a catapult and a barricade built by protesters before being pushed back to their original positions by the crowd.
Opposition leader Vitali Klitschko accused the government of paying thugs to delegitimize the protests through violence.
He said that the thugs, who were tasked with smashing windows and burning cars, were chased away by protesters.
News from © The Associated Press, 2014