1 dead, over 100 injured in clashes in central Kiev

At least one person was killed and more than 100 were injured on Monday as clashes erupted near Ukrainian parliament building in central Kiev between police and protesters, who opposed constitutional amendments on decentralization.

A 25-year-old soldier of the National Guard died in the hospital after being fatally injured with shrapnel during the clashes, said Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov.

According to him, a total of 122 people, who were injured in the clashes, are now in hospitals and 11 of them are in critical condition.

Among those injured are at least three journalists -- a cameraman of the local TV-channel "1+1" and two French reporters, the minister added.

The violence came as the Ukrainian lawmakers were due to vote on constitutional amendments on decentralization, which are expected to give more autonomy to Lugansk and Donetsk regions, where a bloody conflict between government troops and pro-independence rebels rages since April 2014.

The clashes started at about 10 a.m. local time (GMT 0700) when a group of activists, who opposed constitutional amendments, attacked police guarding the parliament building with smoke bombs and tear gas grenades, which met strong resistance.

The confrontation turned violent three hours later, when an explosive device was thrown at the officers, injuring dozens.

Following the clashes, a total of 30 protesters were detained, the Interior Ministry said.

The incident marked the bloodiest outbreak of violence in Kiev since February 2014, when over 100 people were killed during the street protests that toppled the previous government.

Constitutional amendments on decentralization are one of the main provisions of the Minsk peace deal signed in February, which is designed to put an end to the conflict in eastern Ukraine, which has already killed 6,800 people.

The changes of the country's constitution sparked controversy in Ukraine with some political forces claiming that the move to grant more autonomy to certain regions could split the country apart.

Source: XINHUA