Ukrainian Nationalists In Stand Off With Kiev
A Ukrainian far right group involved in the pro-Western 'Maiden' protests is threatening more demonstrations against the government over an outbreak of violence involving its members.
Members of the ultra-nationalist Right Sector carried out a series of protests after a shootout with police on Saturday in the western town of Mukacheve left at least two dead.
Right Sector was one of the key groups whose violent action led to former president Viktor Yanukovych quitting power and Ukraine shifting its allegiance from Russia to Europe.
On Saturday and Sunday, Right Sector held rallies and shouted slogans outside the parliament building in Kiev, calling for wider demonstrations after Ukraine's security forces called on the group to lay down arms.
Ukrainian authorities launched a "special operation" to disarm the members of the group involved in the shooting, using a helicopter and armed vehicles to circle the area around Mukacheve.
The cause of Saturday's violence is not clear.
Right Sector said the fire fight had occurred while it was attempting to root out corruption.
It said its members were lured to a sports club in Mukacheve by a local politician they had accused of smuggling and were set upon by local police, who killed two of their members.
Ukraine's Interior Ministry said Right Sector opened fire first, killing one civilian.
The interior minister Arsen Avakov said on his Facebook page that three police officers and four civilians were wounded in grenade attacks.
Right Sector called for Mr Avakov to resign or be sacked.
Analysts said the moves could threaten to open up a new front in Kiev's battle to maintain order in Ukraine, where a rebellion in its east continues.
A stand off that started on Saturday continued on Monday with Ukrainian security forces pictured guarding a checkpoint on a road leading to the village of Lavki near Mukacheve.
The Right Sector members involved in the violence are thought to have retreated into forest near Lavki.
A spokesman for Right Sector, Oleksiy Byk, said members would set up as many checkpoints as were needed to stop police reinforcements approaching the area.
He told a news conference: "We will block the roads which the police can use to send more forces to surround our comrades.
"These checkpoints are not to stop civilian cars but to stop the police or any other force which is being sent to reinforce ... Mukacheve."
