Ukrainian president blames opposition leaders for fresh bloody violence

Eurasia News

KIEV: The Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych on Wednesday blamed the opposition leaders for the recent bloody violence that erupted in the central square of the country’s capital Kiev, stressing that those responsible for the deadly violence would face the law.

“The leaders of the opposition have disregarded the principle of democracy according to which we obtain power through elections and not on the street … they have crossed the limits by calling for people to take up arms,” Yanukovych said in an address to the nation on Wednesday morning.

His statement came a day after at least 25 persons including seven police officers were killed and over 240 were injured during the clashes between police and anti-government protesters in Kiev.

The latest wave of clashes began after the deadline set by security authorities to end the protests expired.