200,000 protesters flood Ukraine capital

KIEV, Ukraine -- About 200,000 anti-government protesters converged in the heart of the capital yesterday in a dramatic show of morale after nearly four weeks of daily protests, but the rally was shadowed by suggestions that their goal of closer ties with Europe may be imperiled.

A much smaller demonstration of government supporters, about 15,000, was taking place less than a mile away from Kiev's Independence Square. Anti-government protesters have set up an extensive tent camp there and erected barricades of snow hardened with freezing water and studded with scrap wood and other junk.

U.S. Sens. John McCain and Chris Murphy joined the anti-government demonstrators to express support for their European ambitions, threatening sanctions against the government of President Viktor Yanukovych if authorities use more violence to disperse the protests.

The protests began Nov. 21 after Yanukovych announced he was backing away from signing a long-awaited agreement to deepen trade and political ties with the EU and instead focus on Russia, and have grown in size and intensity after two violent clashes with police.

In the face of the protests, Ukrainian officials this week renewed talks with the EU agreement and promised that they would sign the deal once some issues are worked out.

However, a top EU official, Stefan Fuele, cast doubt on the prospect yesterday, saying on his Twitter account that work is "on hold" and that the words and actions of Yanukovych and his government are "further and further apart."

Yanukovych backed off the agreement on the grounds that the EU was not providing adequate compensation to his economically struggling nation for potential trade losses with Russia. Russia, which for centuries exerted heavy influence on Ukraine, wants the country to join a union, which also includes Belarus and Kazakhstan.

The opposition says that union would effectively reconstitute the Soviet Union and remain suspicious that Yanukovych might agree to it when he meets Russian President Vladimir Putin tomorrow.