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Huge pro-EU demonstration in Ukraine

Hundred's of thousands of people have taken to the streets in the Ukrainian capital Kiev seeking the resignation of the government for refusing a deal on closer ties with the European Union.

Protesters, who oppose closer connections with Russia, toppled a statue of Vladimir Lenin.

President Viktor Yanukovych has said he shelved the EU deal after Russian opposition.

President Vladimir Putin has urged Kiev to join a Russian-led customs union.

The protest leaders have given President Yanukovych 48 hours to dismiss the government and are setting up barricades outside the PM's offices.

Witnesses said a group of protesters toppled the statue of Soviet leader Lenin using metal bars and ropes and then began smashing it up with hammers, the BBC had reported.

In another development on Sunday, the Ukrainian Security Service said it was investigating some politicians on suspicion of what it called "actions aimed at seizing state power".

Amid rising tensions, the European Commission said EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton would travel to Ukraine this week "to support a way out of the political crisis".

Waving EU and Ukrainian flags, protesters congregated on Kiev's Independence Square - the scene of previous clashes with police.

Ukraine's special police force, Berkut, has been widely condemned for beating protesters in the square - known as Maidan.

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