Ukraine court releases all demonstrators arrested during violent crackdown

A Ukrainian court has released all those arrested during a violent police dispersal of demonstrators near the presidential administration building, one of the demands of the opposition that has conducted three weeks of large protests, ABC news reported Friday. An appeals court spokeswoman, Olga Chaplya, said the last of nine people arrested in the Dec. 1 clash was released on Friday, but the criminal cases against them continue. The opposition had set the releases as a condition for entering talks with the government. It also wants government commitment to seek closer ties with the European Union. Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych's refusal to sign the agreement set off the protests. Deputy Prime Minister Serhiy Arbuzov, after meeting with EU officials on Thursday, said Ukraine intends to sign soon, but that issues still must be worked out.