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Riot police end demo camp smash-up

Forces meet fierce resistance from protesters

Ukrainian riot police retreated morning after a failed overnight bid to clear protesters out of Kiev's Independence Square.

Several thousand police swarmed the square in the early hours morning in a bid to disperse the protest and start tearing down their camp.

But the protesters, whose ranks swelled througout the night, put up fierce resistance and shoved back police.

Several protesters were injured, though police appeared more restrained than during previous encounters.

Some police officers helped injured activists up from the ground and moved them away.

The Interior Ministry said 10 officers were also injured in the scuffle.

Kiev police claimed they were only trying to clear the streets leading to Independence Square, not clear the main protest camp or unseat occupations of government buildings.

The torn-down tents had been replaced by yesterday afternoon.

US Secretary of State John Kerry lectured the authorities on their use of violence.

He expressed US "disgust with the decision of Ukrainian authorities to meet the peaceful protest ... with riot police, bulldozers, and batons, rather than with respect for democratic rights and human dignity."

"This response is neither acceptable, nor does it befit a democracy."

Police also tried to storm the occupied city administration building.

Protesters poured icy water down the steps to make it harder to enter.

The police returned to their buses a few hours later.

Protests erupted over President Viktor Yanukovych's decision to shelve talks for closer links with the EU in favour of links with Russia.

On Tuesday Mr Yanukovych called for arrested protesters to be released and insisted Ukraine was still interested in closer ties with Europe.

But during a meeting with three former heads of state he also described the calls for talks as a "threat to national security."

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