Olga Rudenko

Special for USA TODAY

Prime Minister Mykola Azarov called the protesters %22criminals%22

Cabinet approves a decree expanding riot police powers

Range of weapons includes flash and smoke grenades

KIEV, Ukraine —Opposition leaders Wednesday demanded that President Viktor Yanukovych call for early elections within 24 hours or face more violence following the death of two protesters in confrontations with police,

The deaths marked a grim change in a growing political crisis that began last November with peaceful protests.

After issuing what amounts to an ultimatum to the government, opposition leaders urged tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered in a city square to remain at their protest camp and avoid violence for the 24 hour period.

"You, Mr. President, have the opportunity to resolve this issue. Early elections will change the situation without bloodshed and we will do everything to achieve that," opposition leader Vitali Klitschko told 40,000 people gathered in the cold on Kiev's Independence Square.

Protesters have been demonstrating daily in an effort to bring down the government over its decision to forge closer ties to Moscow rather than the European Union, and over human rights violations.

They demanded early elections and an end to harsh anti-protest legislation passed last week, which set off the violent clashes.

"Now that he has launched a serious (use of) force, there is no way back for Yanukovych," said Yuriy Romanenko, director of Stratagema, a political think tank in Kiev. "If he steps back, it may ruin the law enforcement system that supports him."

Although the Interior Ministry confirmed the two deaths, protesters said the actual number killed was higher. Oleg Musiy, the coordinator of a team of medical volunteers helping protesters, said five protesters had died from gunshot wounds and another 300 were injured.

What began as peaceful anti-government protests three months ago turned violent Sunday afternoon after a group of radicals among the protesters attacked police who were blocking a main thoroughfare leading to the parliament and other government buildings.

Since then, violence has continued to erupt with more attacks on police involving stones, Molotov cocktails and fireworks. Police have responded with tear gas and stun grenades.

Prime Minister Mykola Azarov called the protesters "criminals, who must answer for their deeds."

"They crossed beyond the edge of peaceful protest, as well as the edge of the Christian moral principles in general," Azarov said at Cabinet meeting Wednesday.

Following that, the Cabinet approved a decree expanding riot police powers, allowing them to use a range of weapons, including flash and smoke grenades. Opposition movement leaders held talks to diffuse the tension with President Yanukovych on Wednesday but they came to nothing, they said afterward.

"I was sitting there thinking that these people don't know the situation at all," said one opposition leader, Oleh Tiahnybok.

Protesters, who had been acting peacefully, said the deaths could lead to further violence as demonstrators retaliate against the police.

"I'm very peaceful by nature," said Yuriy Tkachenko, a protester. "But I've been watching what is going on here for a while, and if it is true that they (protesters) were killed by police, I think I may be even angry enough to join (the radical protesters attacking the police)."

Romanenko says that despite the violence, Yanukovych won't make concessions unless Germany, the U.S. or Russia press him to, because those are the countries with real power.

"Russia will not do it — it supports the Yanukovych regime and invests in it," he said. "The position of U.S. is mild. They acted much faster with Gadhafi."

French President Francois Hollande on Wednesday expressed concern over the increasing violence in Ukraine and urged the government to ensure the rule of law, said his spokeswoman.

Hollande voiced his "very serious concern" after Kiev tightened laws on "freedom of expression and assembly," government spokesman Najat Vallaud-Belkacem said. He also urged the Ukrainian authorities "to strictly respect their commitments in respect to democracy and the rule of law," she said.