World News liveblog
Reuters live coverage of events around the world. Follow @ReutersWorld on Twitter for top news and @ReutersLive for live video events.
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Ukraine deal sets early presidential election for this year; no date set yet: German foreign minister -
GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTRY- FRANCE, GERMANY, POLAND FOREIGN MINISTERS WELCOME UKRAINE DEAL, COMMEND PARTIES FOR COURAGE AND CALL FOR IMMEDIATE END TO VIOLENCE
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Presenters on #Euromaidan stage in #Kyiv ask protesters to remain calm, not to think of seizing Radaby Myroslava Petsa via twitter 2/21/2014 2:08:36 PM -
Yanukovich and opposition sign agreement to end crisis
KIEV (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich on Friday signed an agreement with three opposition leaders to end a crisis that sparked violent clashes between protesters and police on the streets of the capital Kiev.
A Reuters correspondent at the signing in the presidential headquarters said Yanukovich did not smile during a ceremony lasting several minutes.
The agreement followed an announcement by Yanukovich to hold early elections, to form a national unity government and relinquish some of his presidential powers. The agreement was witnessed by two European Union foreign ministers who brokered the deal.
(Writing By Richard Balmforth; Editing by Timothy Heritage) -
A policeman from Lviv (L), who has joined anti-government protesters, visits barricades in Kiev February 21, 2014. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko
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A police officer who has joined anti-government protesters gets emotional as he is escorted during a rally in Independence Square in Kiev February 21, 2014. REUTERS/Yannis Behrakis
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SPOKESWOMAN FOR UKRAINE'S KLITSCHKO SAYS ALL OPPOSITION LEADERS ARE AT PRESIDENTIAL HQ AND POISED TO SIGN AGREEMENT
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Protesters' council backs Ukraine deal, with conditions - Interfax
KIEV (Reuters) - A council representing anti-government protesters in Kiev on Friday backed a draft agreement with President Viktor Yanukovich on ending the country's crisis but set conditions, an opposition leader was quoted as saying.
Interfax news agency quoted Oleh Tyahnibok, a far-right leader, as saying the deal should stand only if there were guarantees that the present interior minister and prosecutor-general were not included in any interim government.
A European Union source said the council had voted to back the draft deal after talks with two EU foreign ministers. The protesters' backing had emerged as the main obstacle to the deal being signed.
(Reporting by Natalia Zinets, writing by Timothy Heritage) -
EU ministers win Ukraine protesters' backing for deal - EU source
KIEV (Reuters) - Two European Union ministers won backing for a draft agreement on resolving the crisis in Ukraine from a council representing protesters on Kiev's Independence Square on Friday, a European Union diplomat said.
Opposition from the protesters has become the main obstacle to a deal between the opposition and President Viktor Yanukovich that would allow early presidential elections.
(Reporting by Sabine Siebold, Writing by Timothy Heritage) -
Tyahnybok: Opposition agree to agreement with Yanukovych on conditions Interior Minister and Prosecutor General won't be in govtby Myroslava Petsa via twitter 2/21/2014 1:21:15 PM
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UKRAINE OPPOSITION LEADER TYAHNIBOK SAYS PROTESTERS COUNCIL BACKS AGREEMENT ON CONDITION PRESENT INTERIOR MINISTER AND PROSECUTOR-GENERAL ARE EXCLUDED FROM ANY INTERIM GOVERNMENT-INTERFAX
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POLISH FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN SAYS MAIDAN PROTESTERS COUNCIL VOTED IN FAVOUR OF SIGNING AGREEMENT IN UKRAINE CRISIS
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EU MINISTERS WIN BACKING FOR AGREEMENT ON RESOLVING UKRAINE CRISIS FROM COUNCIL REPRESENTING KIEV PROTESTERS - EU SOURCE
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Klitschko tells newspaper that opposition will sign deal with Yanukovich
BERLIN (Reuters) - Ukraine opposition leader Vitaly Klitschko told German newspaper Bild on Friday that the opposition would sign an EU-brokered deal to end a deadly standoff with President Viktor Yanukovich, but first further talks were needed with protesters.
"We will sign the deal," Bild quoted Klitschko as saying.
"We are prepared to do everything to obtain a peaceful solution. I told the German foreign minister I would personally appeal to protesters before signing.
"All arguments must be considered before it comes to a signature," he added.
(Reporting by Alexandra Hudson; Editing by Noah Barkin) -
On Maidan, people unwavering in tier demands - Yanukovych must go, they say. No other deal will get them to go home.by Christopher Miller via twitter 2/21/2014 12:52:31 PM -
Many 1000s on Maidan now, protesters and others who appear to be here for first time. Metro lines and bus routes open today.by Christopher Miller via twitter 2/21/2014 12:52:26 PM
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People listen to police officers from Lviv who have joined anti-government protesters as they speak from a stage during a rally in Independence Square in Kiev February 21, 2014. REUTERS/Olga Yakimovich
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The 1st version of a peace agreement w/ Yanukovych is obviously dead, the opposition/insurgents seems like have rejected itby Maxim Eristavi via twitter 2/21/2014 12:41:05 PM -
An anti-government protester tends a fire as he mans a barricade in Kiev February 21, 2014. REUTERS/Baz Ratner
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Ukrainian deputies fight during a session of parliament in Kiev February 21, 2014. REUTERS/Alex Kuzmin
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Ukrainan deputies argue near speaker Volodymyr Rybak (2nd R) during a session of parliament in Kiev February 21, 2014. Fighting broke out between deputies in Ukraine's parliament on Friday when Rybak declared a pause, delaying a debate on a possible resolution calling for President Viktor Yanukovich's powers to be reduced. REUTERS/Maks Levin
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Kyiv Post reporting that agreement is unlikely to go forward. Opposition leader Oleh Tiahynbook took to the stage on Independence Square, asked the crowd: "Do we agree with this?" The thousands of people on the square shouted back: "No!"
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POLAND'S PM TUSK: UKRAINIAN VICTIMS ARE FIRST VICTIMS FOR EUROPEAN INTEGRATION
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chorus voices in #Kyiv shows little support deal announced by #Yanukovych , wide calls by #Ukraine opposition for his immediate resignationby David M. Herszenhorn via twitter 2/21/2014 12:04:48 PM -
POLAND'S PM TUSK: THERE IS RISK THAT WORST CASE SCENARIO CAN STILL MATERIALISE IN UKRAINE
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If the Ukrainian government is as corrupt as the protesters say, Ukrainians have no obligation to be loyal to it. A government can only rule by the consent and trust of the people. If it loses that consent and trust, it is no longer a legitimate government. -
A woman holds a candle as she attends the transfer of
over a dozen of corpses from a hotel lobby to a local hospital following
clashes with riot police at Independence Square in Kiev February 20,
2014. Ukraine suffered its bloodiest day since Soviet times on Thursday
with a gun battle in central Kiev as President Viktor Yanukovich faced
conflicting pressures from visiting European Union ministers and his
Russian paymasters. Three hours of fierce fighting in Independence
Square, which was recaptured by anti-government protesters, left the
bodies of over 20 civilians strewn on the ground, a few hundred yards
from where the president met the EU delegation.
REUTERS/Yannis Behrakis -
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DATE IMPORTED: February 21, 2014 Anti-government protesters listen to speeches by their leaders in Kiev's Independence square early February 21, 2014. REUTERS/Yannis Behrakis
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An anti-government protester shoots an improvised device during clashes with riot police in the Independence Square in Kiev February 20, 2014. Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich accused pro-European opposition leaders on Wednesday of trying to seize power by force after at least 26 people died in the worst violence since the former Soviet republic gained independence. REUTERS/Stringer
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Obama looking at a range of sanctions on Ukraine violence: White House
President Barack Obama is urgently considering a range of sanctions against Ukraine after the death toll mounted from violent protests in central Kiev, the White House said on Thursday.
No details were given on the options under consideration or the timeline for decisions, but Obama spoke with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday to discuss steps to help end the violence.
"The president and senior members of his team have been acting quickly to consider the range of options that are available and acting with a sense of urgency, because of the terrible violence that we saw overnight," White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters at a briefing.
Click here to read more. -
We urge President Yanukovych to immediately withdraw his security forces from downtown Kyiv & to respect the right of peaceful protest.by WH National Security via twitter 2/20/2014 5:53:04 PM -
EU agrees to impose sanctions against Ukraine: Italian minister
BRUSSELS - European Union foreign ministers have agreed to move ahead with imposing sanctions including visa bans and asset freezes on those responsible for the violence in Ukraine, Italian Foreign Minister Emma Bonino said on Thursday.
Speaking as she left an emergency gathering in Brussels, Bonino said the position had been agreed with the French, German and Polish foreign ministers, who are currently in Kiev negotiating with Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich.
"The decision is to proceed very rapidly, in the next hours, to a visa ban and asset freeze on those who have committed the violence," she told reporters.
(Reporting by Francesco Guarascio and Adrian Croft, editing by Luke Baker) -
Reuters Picture: Anti-government protesters detain a policeman (2nd L) during clashes in the Independence Square in Kiev February 20, 2014. Ukrainian anti-government protesters are holding 67 policemen hostage in the capital, the country's interior ministry said on Thursday. Earlier the ministry said "Berkut" riot policemen had been armed with combat weapons, an attempt to regain control of violent protests in which at least 50 people have died since Tuesday. REUTERS/Yannis Behrakis
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Reuters Picture: Anti-government protesters prepare Molotov cocktails during clashes with riot police in the Independence Square in Kiev February 20, 2014. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko
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Even the Winter Olympics aren't immune from the turmoil in the Ukraine.
Two members of the Ukrainian Olympics team - an alpine skier and her coach - withdrew from the games, Reuters reported.
The skier, Bogdana Matsotska, said she will miss her "favorite discipline," the slalom, as a result:To go on the start line when people are dying and when the authorities broke the main rule of the Olympic competition, which is peace - I simply cannot do it.
And she's not alone in her sentiment.
Earlier, the IOC denied the Ukraine team's request to wear black armbands to honor those who died in the unrest.
Ukraine's Olympic Committee Chief Sergey Bubka, for his part, spoke out against the violence in Kiev, and added (through an IOC spokesman's statement) that he "absolutely respects every individual's right to make their own decision" on whether to stay at the Games.
Click here for more updates out of Sochi. -
Putin is sending his own envoy to Kiev to help negotiate between government and opposition. #Ukraine #euromaidanby Thomas Grove via twitter 2/20/2014 3:02:37 PM -
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by Christopher Miller via twitter 2/20/2014 2:28:34 PM -
EU set to back sanctions, arms embargo on Ukraine - draft statement
BRUSSELS - The European Union is set to back sanctions on those responsible for violence in Ukraine, as well as to impose an arms embargo on the country, according to a draft text of an EU ministerial statement obtained by Reuters.
However, EU officials cautioned that the text is subject to revisions and the final decision will be taken by EU foreign ministers due to meet in Brussels later on Thursday.
(Reporting by Adrian Croft; editing by Barbara Lewis) -
by max seddon via twitter 2/20/2014 1:01:28 PM
Iran-backed forces seize tanker, maritime sources say; Iran denies it
DUBAI/LONDON (Reuters) -Iranian-backed forces are believed to have seized an oil tanker in the Gulf off the coast of the United Arab Emirates, three maritime security sources said, after Britain's maritime trade agency reported a "potential hijack" in the area on Tuesday.
