Ukraine urges objective international evaluation of violence in Kiev

Ukrainian Acting Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara on Tuesday asked the international community to make an objective evaluation of the recent violence in central Kiev. "We call on foreign governments and international organizations to make a fair and impartial assessment of the situation in Ukraine," Kozhara was quoted by the Foreign Ministry's press office as saying. Kozhara voiced his hope that the international community would "strongly condemn" the illegal actions of radical activists, who initiated a new wave of "violence and lawlessness" in Ukraine. Earlier Tuesday, anti-government protesters attacked police with Molotov cocktails outside the parliament building. Two vehicles blocking the way to the parliament were torched by the demonstrators. The activists also set on fire the headquarters of the ruling Party of Regions in downtown Kiev. Police responded with stun grenades and tear gas to push the crowd back. As of 3.30 p.m. local time (1330 GMT), a total of 47 police officers were confirmed injured in clashes. Meanwhile, local media reported about over 100 people injured in the protesters' camp. Pro-opposition doctor Olga Bogomolets told local media that three demonstrators died from gunshot wounds during the fresh unrest. However, the deaths of the protesters have not been confirmed by the authorities yet. The unrest marked the latest wave of clashes between demonstrators and riot police in the almost three-month-old political standoff, which began last November when a government decision to backtrack on the country's European integration angered Ukrainians. The rallies turned violent on Jan. 19, when radical activists attacked riot police with fireworks and petrol bombs.