Black smoke and fireballs rise during clashes between protesters and police in central Kiev, Ukraine, early Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014. As riots spread from Ukraine's embattled capital to nearly half of the country, President Viktor Yanukovych promised Friday to reshuffle his government and make other concessions - but a top opposition leader said nothing short of his resignation would do. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)
January 25, 2014 - 1:09 AM
KIEV, Ukraine - Ukraine's Interior Ministry has accused protesters in Kyiv of capturing two of its officers as violent clashes have resumed in the capital and anti-government riots spread across Ukraine.
The ministry urged protesters Saturday to immediately release the policemen who it said are being kept in the Kyiv city administration building occupied by protesters for nearly two months. The demonstrators denied the ministry's claim.
The unrest, meanwhile, has spread across the country with protesters seizing a government building in yet another western city.
President Viktor Yanukovych has refused protesters demand to resign and call early elections, offering only minor concessions to the opposition Friday. Violent clashes then resumed in Kyiv's government district, with protesters pelting rocks and fire bombs at police, who responded with stun grenades, tear gas and rubber bullets.
News from © The Associated Press, 2014