25 confirmed dead in Ukraine's unrest

The Ukrainian Health Ministry said that at least 25 people were killed during the violence in Kiev that erupted Tuesday and continued into the early hours of Wednesday. The clashes also left over 300 people from both sides of the conflict injured, the press service of the ministry said. Meanwhile, the Interior Ministry said that nine police officers were killed and 371 were wounded during the clashes with riot protesters. The anti-government rallies in Kiev turned violent Tuesday morning when radical activists attacked riot police with fireworks and petrol bombs. The police began to surround the Independence Square, the main site where protesters had camped, at around 8 p.m. local time (1800 GMT) Tuesday, dismantling barricades and dispersing demonstrators with stun grenades and water cannon. The violence was the latest wave of clashes between demonstrators and riot police in the political standoff, which began last November when the government's decision to backtrack on the country's European integration angered many Ukrainians.