Demonstrators in Ukraine's capital city of Kiev protesting the refusal of Russian-allied President Viktor Yanukovych to sign an agreement for stronger cooperation with the European Union will not be deterred, despite a tough overnight crackdown by riot police.

According to CNN, protesters rebuilt within hours barricades that had been sawed apart with chainsaws by hundreds of officers. Clashes along the barricade during the deconstruction process led to injuries on both sides.

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Actions of Ukrainian law enforcement, including Wednesday's pre-dawn crackdown, have been widely condemned by Western leaders. Said U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland:

"What has been happening in security terms here, is absolutely impermissible in a European state, in a democratic state."

 

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Reach Executive Producer Francesca Bessey here.