In Ukraine’s capital Kyiv, several Orthodox priests took to the streets on Tuesday to pray and read from the Bible, creating a rare moment of calm between riot police and protesters. <br /><br />Elsewhere in the city, the violence continued as police moved in to take down barricades in a street leading to government offices.<br /><br />Opposition leaders accuse the government of paying thugs to turn the protests violent and provide an excuse for a state of emergency.<br /><br />Protesters rounded up some of those accused of carrying weapons and trying to instigate violence, making them do a ‘walk of shame’ through the city’s Independence Square.<br /><br />One anti-government protester said: “We don’t want any war or any radical actions, but our government forces us, it is against the Ukrainian people. All my friends and family support the protest, no one wants victims.” <br /><br />On Wednesday new legislation banning peaceful protests and slander of government officials comes into force.<br /><br />The Ukranian president, Viktor Yanukovich, appealed for calm, saying: “I call for dialogue, compromise and peace in our native land. I believe in the people of Ukraine. I am confident in the wisdom of our people. I am ready to serve the state and people faithfully as long as I have enough strength and the trust of the people.”
