Ukraine holds crisis talks, protesters prepare for mass rally

2013-12-13 104

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich began talks with the opposition to try to find a way out of the country's ongoing political crisis.

But after the meeting, the opposition said their core demands, which include the dismissal the Yanukovich government, had not been met.

Head of the opposition Udar party, Vitaly Klitschko.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) HEAD OF THE OPPOSITION UDAR, OR "PUNCH" PARTY, VITALY KLITSCHKO, SAYING:

"We don't have a clear answer for many questions. Just one thing the president talked (said), we have right now a moratorium for the special forces, it means for the next couple of days, the government won't use the police against a peaceful demonstration. We hope, we hope."

Protesters have started streaming into Kiev, in preparation for a mass rally set for Sunday.

… adding to thousands of people already camped out in Kiev's Independence Square.

The United Nations Human Rights agency says it's concerned by escalating violence bet