Poland accused of 'interfering in Ukraine'

An Ukrainian woman stands with white flag and icon in front of the riot police line during a temporary truce of the anti-government protest in downtown Kiev, Ukraine, 23 January: photo - EPA/SERGEY DOLZHENKO

The protesters, members of the Russian Rally group, Ukrainian Alliance of Soviet Officers and Progressive Socialist Party of Ukraine, also demanded the closure of all Polish diplomatic missions in Ukraine, claiming their staff were representing an enemy nation.

Poland's Consul General Jan Granat in the eastern Ukraine city told Polish Radio that the protesters accuse the government in Warsaw of conducting activity aimed at triggering economic problems in Ukraine in order to secure a takeover of bankrupt enterprises.

The Polish Consul General said he would address a note of protest to the authorities of the Kharkov District stating that the slanderous remarks levelled at official representatives of Poland are in contradiction to accepted standards as well as the actual state of and spirit governing Polish-Ukrainian relations.

The protest follows escalating and sometimes violent conflict in the Ukrainian capital Kiev, where five people - some reports say three - died when police attempted to clear a protest near government buildings this week.

Ukrainian anti-government protesters erected more street barricades in Kiev early on Friday after opposition leaders, including heavyweight boxing champion Vitaly Klitschko emerged empty-handed from talks with President Viktor Yanukovich that were aimed at defusing two months of unrest, Reuters reports.

"I earnestly wish that there will be no bloodshed and that people are not killed. I will survive, but I am afraid there will be deaths, I am afraid of this," Klitschko said.

Prime Minister Mykola Azarov accused the protesters of trying to stage a coup d'etat.

"All those who support this coup should say clearly, 'Yes, we are for the overthrow of the legitimate authorities in Ukraine', and not hide behind peaceful protesters," Azarov said at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. (pg/ss)