(8 Dec 2013) Ukraine's opposition leaders said on Sunday they would continue to demonstrate peacefully, and called the latest move by the country's security service "a provocation".
Earlier on Sunday, Ukraine's security service announced it was investigating several opposition leaders suspected of attempting to seize power amid the massive anti-government protests gripping the country.
The announcement came hours after hundreds of thousands of angry Ukrainians occupied the capital's main square and blockaded approaches to key government buildings.
Angered by the security service's announcement, Oleh Tyahnybok, leader of the opposition Svoboda party, explained what the demonstrators want.
"People have come here to protest against the authorities. The nation wants to be a part of the European Union. People want punishment for those who killed and injured activists. People want the government to resign. And that is what they (security service) call state betrayal? This a provocation from the law enforcement side."
The leader of the opposition All-Ukrainian Union "Fatherland", Arseniy Yatsenyuk, pointed out that there has been "No violence from the side of the protestors, no damage, no seizure of any governmental agencies and buildings. We are peaceful and we are determined to fight for our freedoms and liberties."
Anti-government demonstrations began last month after President Viktor Yanukovych shelved the signing of an agreement to deepen ties with the 28-nation European Union in order to focus on Russia, which had worked aggressively to derail the EU deal.
During a huge demonstration a week ago, several hundred radical protesters hurled stones and attacked police as they tried to storm the presidential office, prompting a violent breakup by the authorities in which dozens were injured, including peaceful protesters, passers-by and journalists.
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