Ukraine protesters say won’t leave Kiev streets

Protesters in Ukraine say they will continue demonstrations in Kiev until the government addresses their political demands.

Camping in central Kiev, the protesters pledged to continue protests against the administration of President Viktor Yanukovych, adding that they want to see constitutional changes, which would strip the president of some of his powers.

Some protesters, however, are seeking nothing less than the resignation of Yanukovych, although he has already granted his opponents a series of concessions.

Demonstrators are set to hold another major protest in the capital as they have already set up their barricades at Independence Square, blocking traffic on the city’s main avenue.

Ukraine has been rocked by anti-government protests since November 2013, after Yanukovych refrained from signing an Association Agreement with the European Union, which could have paved the way for Kiev to join the bloc.

Six people have lost their lives since the protests broke out.

While authorities blame the violence on hard-line opponents, opposition leaders say police and squads of pro-government thugs are behind the turmoil.

Ukraine Interior Minister Vitaliy Zakharchenko has warned of terror attacks by extremist groups.

Zakharchenko warned of the threat of radicalized groups in Ukraine, saying the ministry has information showing that some extremist groups are gearing up for what he called “a terror attack.”

Meanwhile, Russia has repeatedly accused the West of meddling in the internal affairs of Ukraine and fueling the crisis in the country.

Sergey Glazyev, advisor to Russian President Vladimir Putin, has described the situation in Ukraine as an attempted coup and accused the United States of funding and arming what he said was ‘Ukrainian militants.’