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In Pictures: Ukraine unrest continues

Compromise offer from President Yanukovych fails to mollify the opposition.

A recent meeting between Ukrainian opposition leaders and President Viktor Yanukovych failed to produce any agreement to end the protests.

By Svetlana Ivanova

Published On 28 Jan 2014

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Tensions remained high in Kiev on Monday as several dozen protesters from a group named Spilna Sprava (The Right Deed) seized control of the ministry building late on Sunday, smashing windows and erecting barricades outside.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s justice minister is threatening to call for a state of emergency after demonstrators occupied the Justice Ministry and protests demanding the president’s resignation spread.

Justice Minister Olena Lukash, who is taking part in negotiations between the opposition and President Viktor Yanukovych, said she would ask for the talks to be broken off if the building was not freed.

The opposition leaders have called for early presidential elections and the repeal of a controversial anti-protest law.
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Protesters rejected Yanukovych(***)s offer to appoint an opposition leader as prime minister and dilute the anti-protest law.
Protesters rebuilt barricades and kept them ablaze with rubber tyres, after the last police assault on the protest(***)s stronghold.
They said they are not backing down and will continue negotiations with Yanukovych until other demands are met.
On Sunday morning, more than 200 members of the police special forces were forced out of Ukraine House, a Stalin-era exhibition hall near the protest zone which is used as a police base.
Protests have spread to other regions, and demonstrators have occupied local government offices and regional administration buildings.
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Almost half of Ukraine(***)s regions are reported to be more or less in the hands of opposition forces.