adminKIEV. – Ukraine’s security service yesterday announced a nationwide “anti-terrorist” operation in response to deadly anti-government protests that have left at least 26 dead.
“The National Security Service and Ukrainian Anti-Terrorist Centre have taken the decision to conduct an anti-terrorist operation across the territory of Ukraine,” security agency head Oleksandr Yakimenko said in a statement.
Embattled President Viktor Yanukovych was informed of the operation that will see security agencies work with the Ministry of Defence to strengthen state borders and maintain public order, the statement said.
“Radical and extremist groups are posing a real threat to the lives of millions of Ukrainians with their actions,” Yakimenko said.
The statement said that over the past few days some 1 500 firearms and 100 000 bullets had ended up in the hands of “criminals”.
The statement said that Ukraine was faced with “concrete acts of terrorism”.
“Today we are witnessing the use of deliberate and targeted force through arson, murder, hostage-taking and intimidation of the population for criminal ends,” it said.
Protesters remained locked in a tense standoff yesterday after riot police halted an assault against Kiev’s main protest camp on the iconic Independence Square following the bloodiest day of violence in almost three months of demonstrations.
Opposition leaders refused to back down and repeated demands for Yanukovych to leave power.
“The government of Yanukovych has to resign. Only Yanukovych is responsible for murder and terror against peaceful civilians,” opposition leader and former heavyweight boxer Vitali Klitschko said.
“Blood is spilled on the streets of Kiev. The main reason for this is actions of the authorities,” Klitschko said.
Moscow believes the deadly clashes in Kiev were an attempt at a coup by radicalised protesters. – AFP/RT.
EU leaders have quite an opposite view, calling for sanctions against Ukrainian government officials.
In a statement issued yesterday, Russia’s Foreign Ministry described the violence in Ukraine as an attempt at a coup d’etat and a “brown” revolution, accusing European politicians and institutions of “refusing to admit that all of the responsibility for the actions of radical forces in Ukraine rests with the opposition.”
“The Russian side is demanding the leaders on the streets to stop the violence in their country, immediately resume dialogue with the lawful government without threats and ultimatums,” the statement reads.
The Kremlin has also interpreted the violence in Ukraine as a coup attempt. President Putin’s spokesman said that “from the point of view of the Russian leadership”, all of the responsibility for the bloodshed could be laid at the door of “the extremist forces.”
Meanwhile, French, German and Polish foreign ministers headed to Ukraine yesterday after the deadly escalation in the country’s political crisis, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said.
Meeting with US Secretary of State John Kerry yesterday, Fabius called for “restoring political dialogue between the opposition and the government” and said the three ministers would travel to Ukraine before emergency talks among EU ministers in Brussels. – AFP/RT.
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