BLOODIEST DAY IN UKRAINE PROTESTS WITH 22 DEAD AND OVER 1000 INJURED

  EARLY Feb. 18, 2014 began one of the bloodiest days of the Kiev Protests which began on Nov. 21. Violence began on the streets between police and protesters - 22 have died and over 1,000 were injured.  It was a day of non-stop bloodletting, smoke, fire and shooting. 10,000 protesters were on Independence Square. Tents housing protesters were burning on the main square, a fire fueled by protesters with tires as a defense against police attacks. The Interior Ministry, physicians and opposition politicians said that by early Feb. 19 the death toll from the Feb. 18 clashes had reached 20 persons, including at least 13 civilians and seven police officers. Also, the Interior Ministry issued a statement saying that seven police officers had been killed. Dr. Oleh Musiy, who coordinates medical care for the anti-government EuroMaidan protesters, said the death toll reached 20 people early on Feb. 19. Dr. Olga Bogomolets, a physician, also said that the number of injured is more than 1,000 people and more likely "into the thousands." The 20 deaths today came in renewed violent clashes that pit thousands of police and protesters against each other at several locations near Ukraine's parliament building in Kyiv. Police said today that at least 100 police officers were injured alone, including dozens from gunshot wounds. 25 journalists covering the violence were attacked by police. Protesters attack the regional Party of Regions headquarters in Kyiv and set it on fire.  A priest gives last rites to three demonstrators shot to death today by police. Parliament failed to meet today to consider opposition demands for a new constitution and new government. Protesters struck back, armed with sticks, stones, metal bars, fireworks and Molotov cocktails and other explosives. (Image source: Google/Kyivpost)

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