Independence Square was a victorious arena; the hated enemy had been overthrown, his security forces driven from the streets; the capital and half the country belonged to the revolution.

The other half, however, remains loyal to Viktor Yanukovych and the reckoning which will unfold in the coming days is likely to show the alarming rise in the power of paramilitaries.

On Saturday night the prime attraction on the stage in the Maidan, as the square is known, was Yulia Tymoshenko, freed from prison and flown to Kiev to address the crowd of more than 50,000. There was heckling: it had not been forgotten that her seven-year sentence was for abusing her position as Prime Minister. There were also reminders that there had been a shift in the balance of power.

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"She will not be running this country again – things have changed," said Hryhoriy Bandarenko, using an arm to clear a path; the other was entwined with that of another man who was held equally firmly on the other side. Behind them were more prisoners. They were marched through the crowd, out of the barricades, on to a minibus and driven off.

Shape Created with Sketch. In pictures: Ukraine uprising Show all 100 left Created with Sketch. right Created with Sketch. Shape Created with Sketch. In pictures: Ukraine uprising 1/100 Ukraine People light candles during a religious service at a church in Kiev 2/100 Ukraine A child lights a candle on a makeshift memorial to anti-government protesters killed in the past weeks' clashes with riot police on Kiev's Independence Square 3/100 Ukraine Newly freed Ukrainian opposition icon Yulia Tymoshenko speaks at Independence Square moments after parliament voted to hold early presidential elections in May. Tymoshenko received a rapturous welcome on Independence Square. 'You are heroes, you are the best of Ukraine' she told the 50,000-strong crowd before breaking down in tears 4/100 Ukraine People visit the Independence square in Kiev 5/100 Ukraine People walk by barrycades and makeshift memorials to the victims of the riots in central Kiev 6/100 Ukraine People lay flowers on the Independence Square in Kiev 7/100 Ukraine Maidan self-defence activists stand on an armored vehicle in central Kiev 8/100 Ukraine People gather for prayers and to listen to speakers in Independence Square 9/100 Ukraine A woman with a Ukrainian flag wrapped around her sholders looks on as she lights a candle at a makeshift memorial to anti-government protesters killed in the past weeks' clashes with riot police 10/100 Ukraine The body of Ustim Holodnyuk (19) who was killed in fighting between anti-government protesters and police, is carried from Independence Square in Kiev 11/100 Ukraine An anti-government protester injured during clashes with riot police receives medical care at a makeshift hospital in Kiev 12/100 Ukraine Protestors build a barricade at the Independent square in Kiev 13/100 Ukraine Anti-government protesters shout 'Glory to the Ukraine' as they man a barricade at Independence Square in Kiev 14/100 Ukraine An anti-government demonstrator holds a burning tire as he build a barricade at the Independent square in Kiev 15/100 Ukraine An anti-government demonstrator builds a barricade with burning tires at the Independent square in Kiev 16/100 Ukraine An anti-government demonstrator throws a burning tire as he build a barricade at the Independent square in Kiev 17/100 Ukraine Anti-government protesters carry an injured man on a stretcher after clashes with riot police in the Independence Square in Kiev 18/100 Ukraine Protesters cheer while they managed to break police blockade in Kiev 19/100 Ukraine Anti-government protesters take cover while under fire from police snipers during clashes with riot police in central Kiev 20/100 Ukraine Protesters hold petrol bombs during clashes with police in Kiev 21/100 Ukraine Anti-government protesters carry an injured man on a stretcher after clashes with riot police in the Independence Square in Kiev 22/100 Ukraine Protesters walk on a puddle of blood left by a wounded demonstrator during clashes with the police in the center of Kiev 23/100 Ukraine An anti-government protester holds a firearm as he mans a barricade on the outskirts of Independence Square in Kiev 24/100 Ukraine An Otrthodox priest gestures after clashes between anti-government protesters and riot police in the Independence Square in Kiev 25/100 Ukraine An elderly protester smokes during a break in clashes with police in central Kiev 26/100 Ukraine A protestor carries food for demonstrators on the barricades during the face off against heavily-armed police in Kiev 27/100 Ukraine An anti-government protester reacts following clashes with riot police in Independence Square in Kiev 28/100 Ukraine Two anti-government protesters use a large drum after violence erupted in the Independence Square in Kiev 29/100 Ukraine A man plays the trumpet as anti-government protesters continue to clash with police in Independence square in Kiev 30/100 Ukraine Riot police fire at anti government demonstrators on the Independence square in Kiev 31/100 Ukraine Anti government demonstrators carry a wounded comrade during clashes with riot police on the Independence square in Kiev 32/100 Ukraine A protester shouts slogans as he stands behind barricades during clashes with police in Kiev 33/100 Ukraine A protester throws a petrol bomb as he stands behind barricades during clashes with police in Kiev 34/100 Ukraine Ukraine's embattled leader announced a 'truce' with the opposition as he prepared to get grilled by visiting EU diplomats over clashes that killed 26 and left the government facing diplomatic isolation 35/100 Ukraine Protesters burn as they stand behind burning barricades during clashes with police in Kiev 36/100 Ukraine Anti-government protesters continue to clash with police in Independence square, despite a truce agreed between the Ukrainian president and opposition leaders in Kiev 37/100 Ukraine A protester sits on a statue while others stand on a barricade during clashes with police in Kiev 38/100 Ukraine Protesters carry a wounded protester during clashes with police, after gaining new positions near the Independence square in Kiev 39/100 Ukraine Protester carries bottles during the clashes with police in Independence square in Kiev 40/100 Ukraine Protesters walk and stand near a burning bus at the Institutskaya Street close to the central Independence Square in Kiev 41/100 Ukraine Protesters stand behind burning barricades during a face-off against police in Kiev 42/100 Ukraine Protesters escort a 'captured' policeman near Independence square in Kiev 43/100 Ukraine Violent clashes erupted in Kiev following renewed anti-government protests, with the death toll rising to 25 44/100 Ukraine An anti-government protesters prays in Independence Square in Kiev 45/100 Ukraine Anti-government protester throws Molotov cocktail at the police in Independence Square in Kiev 46/100 Ukraine Injured anti-government protester at the Independence Square in Kiev 47/100 Ukraine Anti-government protesters in Independence Square in Kiev 48/100 Ukraine Anti-government protesters carry a roundwood as they gather in Independence Square in central Kiev 49/100 Ukraine An anti-government protester looks on as smoke from a fire rises above Independence Square in central Kiev 50/100 Ukraine Protesters at the Independence Square in Kiev 51/100 Ukraine Ukrainian protesters poured on to a central Kiev square to confront police anew after the bloodiest day since the former Soviet republic, caught in a geopolitical struggle between Russia and the West, won its independence 52/100 Ukraine Interior Ministry officers walk in formation as smoke rises above Independence Square where anti-government protesters are holding a rally in central Kiev 53/100 Ukraine Smoke rises above Independence Square as clashes between anti-government protesters with Interior Ministry members and riot police continue in central Kiev 54/100 Ukraine A trade union building is seen on fire in Independence Square in central Kiev 55/100 Ukraine Interior Ministry members and riot police block a street as anti-government protesters gather in front of them amidst heavy smoke during clashes in Kiev 56/100 Ukraine Ukrainian riot police take cover behind their shields during clashes with anti-government protesters near Independence Square in Kiev 57/100 Ukraine Ukrainian riot police stand in front of the fire ring around of the Independence Square during the continuing protest in downtown Kiev EPA 58/100 Ukraine Flames engulfed the main anti-government protest camp on Independence Square as riot police 59/100 Ukraine Anti-government protesters clash with the police during their storming of Independence Square in Kiev Sergei Supinsky/AFP/Getty Images 60/100 Ukraine Anti-government protesters clash with the police during their storming of Independence Square in Kiev. Flames engulfed the main anti-government protest camp on Kiev's Independence Square on Tuesday as riot police tried to force demonstrators out following the bloodiest clashes in three months of protests Genya Savilov/AFP/Getty Images 61/100 Ukraine Monuments to Kiev's founders burn as anti-government protesters clash with riot police in Kiev's Independence Square Efrem Lukatsky/AP 62/100 Ukraine Riot police storm Kiev's Independence Square Efrem Lukatsky/AP 63/100 Ukraine Riot police storm Kiev's Independence Square, the epicenter of the country's current unrest Efrem Lukatsky/AP 64/100 Ukraine Anti-government protesters clash with riot police in Kiev's Independence Square Efrem Lukatsky/AP 65/100 Ukraine An anti-government protester runs during clashes with riot police in Kiev's Independence Square Efrem Lukatsky/AP 66/100 Ukraine Anti-government protesters clash with riot police in Kiev's Independence Square, the epicenter of the country's current unrest Efrem Lukatsky/AP 67/100 Ukraine Ukrainians gather on the Independence Square during continuing protest in Kiev; smoke is visible in the sky, above the city Igor Kovalenko/EPA 68/100 Ukraine Smoke from exploding fireworks and fires billows into the night sky as Ukrainians gather on the Independence Square during continuing protest in Kiev Igor Kovalenko/EPA 69/100 Ukraine Police clash with anti-government protesters in Kiev. Police on Tuesday began an assault on the main anti-government protest camp in Kiev after a day of bloody clashes, AFP journalists at the scene said Anatolii Boiko/AFP/Getty Images 70/100 Ukraine Anti-government demonstrators stand on barricades during clashes with riot police in Kiev 71/100 Ukraine An opposition demonstrator holds a Molotov cocktail during clashes with police in Kiev 72/100 Ukraine Injured anti-government protesters look on a policeman during clashes with riot police outside Ukraine's parliament in Kiev 73/100 Ukraine Wounded people walk after clashes with riot police in central Kiev 74/100 Ukraine Anti-government female protesters help an injured comrade during clashes with riot police outside Ukraine's parliament in Kiev 75/100 Ukraine Injured anti-government protesters during clashes with riot police outside Ukraine's parliament in Kiev 76/100 Ukraine Anti-government protesters carry a wounded man during clashes with riot police in Kiev 77/100 Ukraine Opposition demonstrators evacuate a wounded protester during clashes with police in Kiev 78/100 Ukraine Red Cross workers give first aid to policemen wounded during clashes with anti-government protester in Kiev 79/100 Ukraine An injured anti-government protester lies on the ground during clashes with riot police outside Ukraine's parliament in Kiev 80/100 Ukraine Interior ministry members take cover behind shields during clashes with anti-government protesters in Kiev 81/100 Ukraine Opposition demonstrators stand in front of burning barricades during clashes with police in Kiev 82/100 Ukraine Anti-government protesters clash with police in front of the Ukrainian Parliment in Kiev 83/100 Ukraine A protester holds a makeshft shield in front of a burning car during clashes with police in Kiev 84/100 Ukraine Anti-government protesters shield themselves during clashes with riot police in central Kiev 85/100 Ukraine Interior Ministry members are on fire, caused by molotov cocktails hurled by anti-government protesters, as they stand guard during clashes in Kiev 86/100 Ukraine Protesters clash with riot police as a rainbow appears during continuing protests in downtown Kiev 87/100 Ukraine Anti-government protesters clashed violently with police in central Kiev, a day after Moscow moved to cement its influence over Ukraine with $2 billion in cash to shore up the former Soviet state's heavily indebted economy 88/100 Ukraine People speak near a barricade on fire during clashes between anti-government protesters and Interior Ministry members in Kiev 89/100 Ukraine Two wounded policemen are guided to the ambulance cars during an anti-government protest in downtown Kiev 90/100 Ukraine Protesters take over the main office of the ruling Ukrainian 'Party of Regions' political party in downtown Kiev 91/100 Ukraine Anti-government protesters attempt to break a door inside an office of the pro-presidential Party of the Regions in Kiev 92/100 Ukraine A protester inside the main office of the ruling Ukrainian Party of Regions political party in downtown Kiev 93/100 Ukraine An anti-government protester dressed in Ukrainian national dress throws a stone during clashes with riot police outside Ukraine's parliament in Kiev 94/100 Ukraine Anti-government protesters gather by the entrance as they attack an office of the pro-presidential Party of the Regions in Kiev 95/100 Ukraine A young anti-government protester looks on during clashes with police in front of the Ukrainian Parliment in Kiev 96/100 Ukraine An anti-government protester wears a gas mask during clashes with Interior Ministry members in Kiev. Several thousand anti-government protesters clashed with police near Ukraine's parliament torching vehicles and hurling stones in the worst violence to rock the capital Kiev in more than three weeks 97/100 Ukraine Thousands of angry anti-government protesters clashed with police in a new eruption of violence following new maneuvering by Russia and the European Union to gain influence over this former Soviet republic 98/100 Ukraine An anti-government protester threatens riot police outside Ukraine's parliament in Kiev 99/100 Ukraine Protesters marched toward the parliament to demand constitutional reforms that would curb the powers of President Viktor Yanukovych. Ukraine has been mired in political crisis since November 2013 after the government backed away from a trade agreement with the European Union and signed a 15-billion-dollar loan deal with Russia instead 100/100 Ukraine At least five anti-government protesters were killed and some 150 others injured in fresh clashes between police and demonstrators protesting near Ukraine's parliament building in Kiev 1/100 Ukraine People light candles during a religious service at a church in Kiev 2/100 Ukraine A child lights a candle on a makeshift memorial to anti-government protesters killed in the past weeks' clashes with riot police on Kiev's Independence Square 3/100 Ukraine Newly freed Ukrainian opposition icon Yulia Tymoshenko speaks at Independence Square moments after parliament voted to hold early presidential elections in May. Tymoshenko received a rapturous welcome on Independence Square. 'You are heroes, you are the best of Ukraine' she told the 50,000-strong crowd before breaking down in tears 4/100 Ukraine People visit the Independence square in Kiev 5/100 Ukraine People walk by barrycades and makeshift memorials to the victims of the riots in central Kiev 6/100 Ukraine People lay flowers on the Independence Square in Kiev 7/100 Ukraine Maidan self-defence activists stand on an armored vehicle in central Kiev 8/100 Ukraine People gather for prayers and to listen to speakers in Independence Square 9/100 Ukraine A woman with a Ukrainian flag wrapped around her sholders looks on as she lights a candle at a makeshift memorial to anti-government protesters killed in the past weeks' clashes with riot police 10/100 Ukraine The body of Ustim Holodnyuk (19) who was killed in fighting between anti-government protesters and police, is carried from Independence Square in Kiev 11/100 Ukraine An anti-government protester injured during clashes with riot police receives medical care at a makeshift hospital in Kiev 12/100 Ukraine Protestors build a barricade at the Independent square in Kiev 13/100 Ukraine Anti-government protesters shout 'Glory to the Ukraine' as they man a barricade at Independence Square in Kiev 14/100 Ukraine An anti-government demonstrator holds a burning tire as he build a barricade at the Independent square in Kiev 15/100 Ukraine An anti-government demonstrator builds a barricade with burning tires at the Independent square in Kiev 16/100 Ukraine An anti-government demonstrator throws a burning tire as he build a barricade at the Independent square in Kiev 17/100 Ukraine Anti-government protesters carry an injured man on a stretcher after clashes with riot police in the Independence Square in Kiev 18/100 Ukraine Protesters cheer while they managed to break police blockade in Kiev 19/100 Ukraine Anti-government protesters take cover while under fire from police snipers during clashes with riot police in central Kiev 20/100 Ukraine Protesters hold petrol bombs during clashes with police in Kiev 21/100 Ukraine Anti-government protesters carry an injured man on a stretcher after clashes with riot police in the Independence Square in Kiev 22/100 Ukraine Protesters walk on a puddle of blood left by a wounded demonstrator during clashes with the police in the center of Kiev 23/100 Ukraine An anti-government protester holds a firearm as he mans a barricade on the outskirts of Independence Square in Kiev 24/100 Ukraine An Otrthodox priest gestures after clashes between anti-government protesters and riot police in the Independence Square in Kiev 25/100 Ukraine An elderly protester smokes during a break in clashes with police in central Kiev 26/100 Ukraine A protestor carries food for demonstrators on the barricades during the face off against heavily-armed police in Kiev 27/100 Ukraine An anti-government protester reacts following clashes with riot police in Independence Square in Kiev 28/100 Ukraine Two anti-government protesters use a large drum after violence erupted in the Independence Square in Kiev 29/100 Ukraine A man plays the trumpet as anti-government protesters continue to clash with police in Independence square in Kiev 30/100 Ukraine Riot police fire at anti government demonstrators on the Independence square in Kiev 31/100 Ukraine Anti government demonstrators carry a wounded comrade during clashes with riot police on the Independence square in Kiev 32/100 Ukraine A protester shouts slogans as he stands behind barricades during clashes with police in Kiev 33/100 Ukraine A protester throws a petrol bomb as he stands behind barricades during clashes with police in Kiev 34/100 Ukraine Ukraine's embattled leader announced a 'truce' with the opposition as he prepared to get grilled by visiting EU diplomats over clashes that killed 26 and left the government facing diplomatic isolation 35/100 Ukraine Protesters burn as they stand behind burning barricades during clashes with police in Kiev 36/100 Ukraine Anti-government protesters continue to clash with police in Independence square, despite a truce agreed between the Ukrainian president and opposition leaders in Kiev 37/100 Ukraine A protester sits on a statue while others stand on a barricade during clashes with police in Kiev 38/100 Ukraine Protesters carry a wounded protester during clashes with police, after gaining new positions near the Independence square in Kiev 39/100 Ukraine Protester carries bottles during the clashes with police in Independence square in Kiev 40/100 Ukraine Protesters walk and stand near a burning bus at the Institutskaya Street close to the central Independence Square in Kiev 41/100 Ukraine Protesters stand behind burning barricades during a face-off against police in Kiev 42/100 Ukraine Protesters escort a 'captured' policeman near Independence square in Kiev 43/100 Ukraine Violent clashes erupted in Kiev following renewed anti-government protests, with the death toll rising to 25 44/100 Ukraine An anti-government protesters prays in Independence Square in Kiev 45/100 Ukraine Anti-government protester throws Molotov cocktail at the police in Independence Square in Kiev 46/100 Ukraine Injured anti-government protester at the Independence Square in Kiev 47/100 Ukraine Anti-government protesters in Independence Square in Kiev 48/100 Ukraine Anti-government protesters carry a roundwood as they gather in Independence Square in central Kiev 49/100 Ukraine An anti-government protester looks on as smoke from a fire rises above Independence Square in central Kiev 50/100 Ukraine Protesters at the Independence Square in Kiev 51/100 Ukraine Ukrainian protesters poured on to a central Kiev square to confront police anew after the bloodiest day since the former Soviet republic, caught in a geopolitical struggle between Russia and the West, won its independence 52/100 Ukraine Interior Ministry officers walk in formation as smoke rises above Independence Square where anti-government protesters are holding a rally in central Kiev 53/100 Ukraine Smoke rises above Independence Square as clashes between anti-government protesters with Interior Ministry members and riot police continue in central Kiev 54/100 Ukraine A trade union building is seen on fire in Independence Square in central Kiev 55/100 Ukraine Interior Ministry members and riot police block a street as anti-government protesters gather in front of them amidst heavy smoke during clashes in Kiev 56/100 Ukraine Ukrainian riot police take cover behind their shields during clashes with anti-government protesters near Independence Square in Kiev 57/100 Ukraine Ukrainian riot police stand in front of the fire ring around of the Independence Square during the continuing protest in downtown Kiev EPA 58/100 Ukraine Flames engulfed the main anti-government protest camp on Independence Square as riot police 59/100 Ukraine Anti-government protesters clash with the police during their storming of Independence Square in Kiev Sergei Supinsky/AFP/Getty Images 60/100 Ukraine Anti-government protesters clash with the police during their storming of Independence Square in Kiev. Flames engulfed the main anti-government protest camp on Kiev's Independence Square on Tuesday as riot police tried to force demonstrators out following the bloodiest clashes in three months of protests Genya Savilov/AFP/Getty Images 61/100 Ukraine Monuments to Kiev's founders burn as anti-government protesters clash with riot police in Kiev's Independence Square Efrem Lukatsky/AP 62/100 Ukraine Riot police storm Kiev's Independence Square Efrem Lukatsky/AP 63/100 Ukraine Riot police storm Kiev's Independence Square, the epicenter of the country's current unrest Efrem Lukatsky/AP 64/100 Ukraine Anti-government protesters clash with riot police in Kiev's Independence Square Efrem Lukatsky/AP 65/100 Ukraine An anti-government protester runs during clashes with riot police in Kiev's Independence Square Efrem Lukatsky/AP 66/100 Ukraine Anti-government protesters clash with riot police in Kiev's Independence Square, the epicenter of the country's current unrest Efrem Lukatsky/AP 67/100 Ukraine Ukrainians gather on the Independence Square during continuing protest in Kiev; smoke is visible in the sky, above the city Igor Kovalenko/EPA 68/100 Ukraine Smoke from exploding fireworks and fires billows into the night sky as Ukrainians gather on the Independence Square during continuing protest in Kiev Igor Kovalenko/EPA 69/100 Ukraine Police clash with anti-government protesters in Kiev. Police on Tuesday began an assault on the main anti-government protest camp in Kiev after a day of bloody clashes, AFP journalists at the scene said Anatolii Boiko/AFP/Getty Images 70/100 Ukraine Anti-government demonstrators stand on barricades during clashes with riot police in Kiev 71/100 Ukraine An opposition demonstrator holds a Molotov cocktail during clashes with police in Kiev 72/100 Ukraine Injured anti-government protesters look on a policeman during clashes with riot police outside Ukraine's parliament in Kiev 73/100 Ukraine Wounded people walk after clashes with riot police in central Kiev 74/100 Ukraine Anti-government female protesters help an injured comrade during clashes with riot police outside Ukraine's parliament in Kiev 75/100 Ukraine Injured anti-government protesters during clashes with riot police outside Ukraine's parliament in Kiev 76/100 Ukraine Anti-government protesters carry a wounded man during clashes with riot police in Kiev 77/100 Ukraine Opposition demonstrators evacuate a wounded protester during clashes with police in Kiev 78/100 Ukraine Red Cross workers give first aid to policemen wounded during clashes with anti-government protester in Kiev 79/100 Ukraine An injured anti-government protester lies on the ground during clashes with riot police outside Ukraine's parliament in Kiev 80/100 Ukraine Interior ministry members take cover behind shields during clashes with anti-government protesters in Kiev 81/100 Ukraine Opposition demonstrators stand in front of burning barricades during clashes with police in Kiev 82/100 Ukraine Anti-government protesters clash with police in front of the Ukrainian Parliment in Kiev 83/100 Ukraine A protester holds a makeshft shield in front of a burning car during clashes with police in Kiev 84/100 Ukraine Anti-government protesters shield themselves during clashes with riot police in central Kiev 85/100 Ukraine Interior Ministry members are on fire, caused by molotov cocktails hurled by anti-government protesters, as they stand guard during clashes in Kiev 86/100 Ukraine Protesters clash with riot police as a rainbow appears during continuing protests in downtown Kiev 87/100 Ukraine Anti-government protesters clashed violently with police in central Kiev, a day after Moscow moved to cement its influence over Ukraine with $2 billion in cash to shore up the former Soviet state's heavily indebted economy 88/100 Ukraine People speak near a barricade on fire during clashes between anti-government protesters and Interior Ministry members in Kiev 89/100 Ukraine Two wounded policemen are guided to the ambulance cars during an anti-government protest in downtown Kiev 90/100 Ukraine Protesters take over the main office of the ruling Ukrainian 'Party of Regions' political party in downtown Kiev 91/100 Ukraine Anti-government protesters attempt to break a door inside an office of the pro-presidential Party of the Regions in Kiev 92/100 Ukraine A protester inside the main office of the ruling Ukrainian Party of Regions political party in downtown Kiev 93/100 Ukraine An anti-government protester dressed in Ukrainian national dress throws a stone during clashes with riot police outside Ukraine's parliament in Kiev 94/100 Ukraine Anti-government protesters gather by the entrance as they attack an office of the pro-presidential Party of the Regions in Kiev 95/100 Ukraine A young anti-government protester looks on during clashes with police in front of the Ukrainian Parliment in Kiev 96/100 Ukraine An anti-government protester wears a gas mask during clashes with Interior Ministry members in Kiev. Several thousand anti-government protesters clashed with police near Ukraine's parliament torching vehicles and hurling stones in the worst violence to rock the capital Kiev in more than three weeks 97/100 Ukraine Thousands of angry anti-government protesters clashed with police in a new eruption of violence following new maneuvering by Russia and the European Union to gain influence over this former Soviet republic 98/100 Ukraine An anti-government protester threatens riot police outside Ukraine's parliament in Kiev 99/100 Ukraine Protesters marched toward the parliament to demand constitutional reforms that would curb the powers of President Viktor Yanukovych. Ukraine has been mired in political crisis since November 2013 after the government backed away from a trade agreement with the European Union and signed a 15-billion-dollar loan deal with Russia instead 100/100 Ukraine At least five anti-government protesters were killed and some 150 others injured in fresh clashes between police and demonstrators protesting near Ukraine's parliament building in Kiev

A pair of men stopped anyone from approaching the vehicle. Both were wearing body armour, helmets, blast-proof glasses, kneepads and carrying Kalashnikov AK-47s. They were taciturn, refusing to say who they were; one just muttered "security". The detained men? They had "harmed the people".

Political groups previously on the fringes are in the ascendancy. Those on the side of the opposition played a prominent part in the vicious fights with the police and are now controlling the streets of the Kiev. Those loyal to the government, who victimised protesters without fear of legal repercussions were in retreat in the capital, but have strongholds elsewhere.

The fear is that the extremists will hold increasing sway with the country in a state of political limbo. Mr Yanukovych is missing, stripped of his office by a parliamentary vote. His 140-hectare estate at Mezhyhirya, with its private zoo, collections of cars and motorbikes, dairy farm, yacht harbour and a moored galleon, was nationalised on Sunday. The new Speaker of the National Assembly and acting President, Oleksandr Turchynov, demanded that a caretaker administration be formed within 48 hours: elections are due to be held in May, but there seems to be little enthusiasm among voters for the prospective candidates.

In an address Mr Turchynov said that the country's new leadership was ready for dialogue with Russia but relations had to be on a "new, equal and good-neighbourly footing that takes into account Ukraine's European choice."

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Meanwhile there was further evidence of division, with crowds gathering in the east of the country, in Kharkiv, Donetsk and cities in the Crimea denouncing Mr Yanukovych's removal as a conspiracy, threatening the opposition and charging that "criminals and fascists" have taken power.

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Mr Bandarenko, carrying out arrests, had described himself at a previous meeting as a member of Samooborona Maidanu (Self-Defence Forces of the Maidan). He later acknowledged that he was a member of the Right Sector, a far-right political group. It has been accused by the government of fomenting unrest, its website asking members to bring "weapons for defence" such as Molotov cocktails, at the height of the violence.

Aleksandr Muzycho, a Right Sector leader in the town of Rovno, threatened to march on the capital during the confrontation: "If those bastards [the police] won't stop, we'll take over military units, armoured personnel carriers and tanks and go to Kiev." Previously he had vowed to fight "Communists, Jews and Russians". Mr Bandarenko maintained: "that thing about the Jews was said years ago and maybe it was not rightly reported. But sure we are prepared to fight Communists and the Russians."

It was Mr Yanukovych's refusal to sign the first step of a membership process to the European Union in November which triggered the uprising. But the Right Sector, unlike many of the other protest groups, does not support joining. "We do not see why we should replace the Soviet Union with the European Union", said Mr Bandarenko. The agreement last Friday, between the government and main opposition parties, "failed because it was imposed on us by EU foreign ministers. The current political system is rotten; we shall replace it."

Right Sector's leader, Andriy Tarasenko, insisted that although the organisation is an umbrella group of nationalists such as White Hammer and Patriot of Ukraine, most of the members are ordinary people without strong political convictions who want to stand up against corruption and abuse.

Svoboda, or Freedom, party is also of the right, but is part of the political system. Its leader, Oleh Tyahnybok, who gained media prominence by being at the barricades during the strife, was suspended from Parliament after claiming there was a conspiracy by a "Muscovite-Jewish Mafia" to destabilise the Ukraine.

Mr Tyahnybok denies that he is anti-Semitic or opposed to the Russian people. Svoboda, he insists, is a serious party with 37 out of 450 deputies in parliament making significant inroads among voters in the west of the country. Its supporters have been at the forefront of the fighting.

The government, in turn, had been accused of using vigilantes, Titushkos, to attack protesters, bussing some of them in from the east to the capital. Among their victims have been AutoMaidan, an agitprop band of drivers who have blocked streets, used satellite tracking to follow police and given lifts to demonstrators. The shooting of a journalist, Vyacheslav Veremiy, has been blamed on these gangs.

According to General Viktor Palivoda, a former head of the security service: "Titushkis are actively used by the government; they are groups of provocateurs who are paid, mostly people without moral principles or very poor people who desperately need money."

The group was named after martial arts enthusiast Vadym Titushko who was filmed beating up journalists covering a pro-Yanukovych rally. But Mr Titushko has objected to the portrayal: "Titushko is a mindless, unbalanced person. No, this is wrong". He says he now supports the opposition.

The group Oplot, or "Stronghold", shares its name with the country's main battle tank, and are supporters of Mr Yanukovych's government. One posting on the website of Oplot, which describes itself as a fight club, read: "Yesterday we caught a protester and cut his ear."

Its leader, Yevhen Zhilin, declared: "I was born in the USSR and I am ready to make war for that state. Our enemies should know that before we pass them to the police, we can break off their legs, or knock out their eyes and it will be absolutely legal. Nobody can punish us for that; the law is on our side."