Ukraine Riot Police Flood Anti-Government Protest Camp

Ukrainian protesters clashed with police outside the Kiev mayor’s office and Independence Square swelled with thousands of demonstrators after security forces tore down barriers and tents in an overnight raid.

Opposition activists poured water and threw smoke bombs at police officers during an attempt early today to storm City Hall, which was seized by protesters more than 10 days ago. As police were forced to retreat, thousands of protesters danced to music at nearby Independence Square, the epicenter of rallies against the government of President Viktor Yanukovych.

Ukraine’s biggest protests in nearly a decade were triggered last month when Yanukovych snubbed a European integration pact, and tensions escalated after clashes with riot police during an earlier attempt to clear a protest encampment. U.S. and European Union officials have condemned the crackdown against demonstrators, who’ve blockaded the downtown square in snow and freezing temperatures.