Cop killed in clashes outside Ukraine parliament

AFP, KIEV: Clashes erupted outside parliament in Kiev yesterday as lawmakers gave initial approval to constitutional changes granting more autonomy to pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.
A blast was also heard outside parliament, an AFP correspondent said, although the cause was not immediately known.
About a dozen people were reportedly injured, an AFP journalist said. Several people were seen bleeding, including police officers and apparently journalists, and lying on the ground in front of the parliament, the journalist said.
The Western-backed constitutional reforms are required under the terms of a Western-backed peace deal signed in February, which called for Kiev to implement “decentralisation” by the end of this year.
But critics have branded the reforms “un-Ukrainian”.
A total of 265 lawmakers voted in favour of the reforms at a stormy session of parliament in Kiev, with protests both inside and outside the buidling.
Dozens of demonstrators scuffled with police, AFP journalists saw. Protesters fired at least one smoke grenade that sent up a cloud of black smoke outside the building.
Tear gas was used by both sides, an AFP correspondent said.
The controversial reforms have been sought by Kiev’s Western allies, who see them as a way of trying to end armed conflict in the east that has claimed more than 6,800 lives over the past 16 months.
The bill has sparked heated debate in Ukraine where opponents see it as an attempt to legalise the de facto rebel control of part of the ex-Soviet country’s territory.

 

Cop killed in clashes outside Ukraine parliament

AFP, KIEV: Clashes erupted outside parliament in Kiev yesterday as lawmakers gave initial approval to constitutional changes granting more autonomy to pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine. A blast was also heard outside parliament, an AFP correspondent said, although the cause was not immediately known. About a dozen people were reportedly injured, an AFP journalist said. Several people were seen bleeding, including police officers and apparently journalists, and lying on the ground in front of the parliament, the journalist said. The Western-backed constitutional reforms are required under the terms of a Western-backed peace deal signed in February, which called for Kiev to implement decentralisation by the end of this year. But critics have branded the reforms un-Ukrainian. A total of 265 lawmakers voted in favour of the reforms at a stormy session of parliament in Kiev, with protests both inside and outside the buidling. Dozens of demonstrators scuffled with police, AFP journalists saw. Protesters fired at least one smoke grenade that sent up a cloud of black smoke outside the building. Tear gas was used by both sides, an AFP correspondent said. The controversial reforms have been sought by Kievs Western allies, who see them as a way of trying to end armed conflict in the east that has claimed more than 6,800 lives over the past 16 months. The bill has sparked heated debate in Ukraine where opponents see it as an attempt to legalise the de facto rebel control of part of the ex-Soviet countrys territory.