Protesters Clash with Police at Ukraine's Parliament
Riot police clashed with protesters outside the Ukrainian parliament Thursday during the latest in a series of demonstrations against government policies that have rattled the authorities.
Around 2,000 protestors, including veterans of the clean-up from the Chernobyl nuclear disaster and private businessmen, were gathered outside the parliament when the violence broke, an Agence France Presse correspondent reported.
The demonstrators broke down a metal security fence supposed to protect the building and tried to come up to the building, shouting "Shame". But riot police forced them back amid scuffles.
One of the policemen, who collapsed after being struck in the face while protesters were breaking down the barriers, required hospital treatment, police spokesman Volodymyr Polishchuk told AFP.
Another policeman was slightly injured but was discharged from hospital after receiving treatment, an interior ministry official told the Interfax-Ukraine news agency.
Three of the demonstrators were detained, Polishchuk added.
Several journalists complained they were abused and beaten by policemen during the protest, the internet media Telekritika reported.
The protests against the authorities and clashes between protesters and law-enforcers have become more frequent in recent months.
About 1,000 Ukrainian Chernobyl "liquidators" tried Tuesday to storm parliament in Kiev and broke down the metal barrier around the building.
Ukraine's President Viktor Yanukovych on Wednesday challenged the government of Prime Minister Mykola Azarov to either win people's trust or resign, during a rare appearance at a cabinet session.
Yanukovych announced the dismissal of two regional governors and told the rest of his cabinet to improve their performance in the coming weeks.
Source: Agence France Presse
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