Diplomatic talks in Ukraine last until dawn, a day after 100 may have died
The smoke rising off of Kiev's Independence Square at sunrise Friday was no longer the thick black kind that has billowed up from barricades ignited by protesters.
Instead, thin streams of white gently rose from stovepipes protruding from tents. Protesters calmly mulled around, where just a day before, carnage erupted, taking the lives of up to 100 protesters, according to an opposition count.
But Ukraine's health ministry put the toll much lower.
It says a total 77 people have died since lethal clashes broke out Tuesday. The ministry said that 577 people were injured; 369 of those were hospitalized.
A protester aims a gun in the direction of suspected sniper fire in Kiev, Ukraine, on Thursday, February 20. Violence has intensified in Kiev's Independence Square, which has been the center of anti-government protests for the past few months.
Police use water cannons against protesters in Kiev on February 20. Thousands of anti-government demonstrators have packed the square since November, when President Viktor Yanukovych reversed a decision on a trade deal with the European Union and instead turned toward Russia.
Police use water cannons against protesters in Kiev on February 20. Thousands of anti-government demonstrators have packed the square since November, when President Viktor Yanukovych reversed a decision on a trade deal with the European Union and instead turned toward Russia.
An injured protester is carried away from Independence Square on a stretcher February 20.
An injured protester is carried away from Independence Square on a stretcher February 20.
A protester gives directions before throwing Molotov cocktails on the outskirts of Independence Square on February 20.
A protester gives directions before throwing Molotov cocktails on the outskirts of Independence Square on February 20.
Captured police officers are led away by protesters in Kiev on February 20.
Captured police officers are led away by protesters in Kiev on February 20.
A woman on February 20 mourns over protesters who were killed during clashes.
A woman on February 20 mourns over protesters who were killed during clashes.
Protesters rebuild barricades in Independence Square on February 20.
Protesters rebuild barricades in Independence Square on February 20.
Riot police face protesters in Kiev on February 20.
Riot police face protesters in Kiev on February 20.
Protesters man a barricade on the outskirts of Independence Square on February 20.
Protesters man a barricade on the outskirts of Independence Square on February 20.
Activists pay their respects to protesters who were killed in clashes with police in Independence Square on February 20.
Activists pay their respects to protesters who were killed in clashes with police in Independence Square on February 20.
An injured protester is evacuated from Independence Square on February 20.
An injured protester is evacuated from Independence Square on February 20.
A priest walks with a cross and shield during clashes in central Kiev on February 20.
A priest walks with a cross and shield during clashes in central Kiev on February 20.
Medics embrace in the lobby of the Hotel Ukraine on February 20.
Medics embrace in the lobby of the Hotel Ukraine on February 20.
A high-ranking police officer, left, and a representative for the protesters speak with each other near the Cabinet of Ministers in Kiev on February 20.
A high-ranking police officer, left, and a representative for the protesters speak with each other near the Cabinet of Ministers in Kiev on February 20.
Protesters light Molotov cocktails in Kiev on February 20.
Protesters light Molotov cocktails in Kiev on February 20.
Activists reinforce the barricades in Kiev on February 20.
Activists reinforce the barricades in Kiev on February 20.
Protesters clash with police in Independence Square on February 20.
Protesters clash with police in Independence Square on February 20.
Protesters move up an embankment in Kiev on February 20.
Protesters move up an embankment in Kiev on February 20.
An injured demonstrator is carried away from Independence Square on February 20.
An injured demonstrator is carried away from Independence Square on February 20.
A protester shouts during clashes with police on February 20.
A protester shouts during clashes with police on February 20.
Protesters run from a burning barricade in Kiev on February 20.
Protesters run from a burning barricade in Kiev on February 20.
A protester rolls a tire toward burning barricades on February 20.
A protester rolls a tire toward burning barricades on February 20.
Protesters advance to new positions in Kiev on February 20.
Protesters advance to new positions in Kiev on February 20.
Fireworks explode over protesters near Independence Square on February 20.
Fireworks explode over protesters near Independence Square on February 20.
A protester holds a crucifix as he prays in Independence Square on February 20.
A protester holds a crucifix as he prays in Independence Square on February 20.
Fireworks explode over protesters in Independence Square on Wednesday, February 19.
Fireworks explode over protesters in Independence Square on Wednesday, February 19.
A protester throws a Molotov cocktail in Kiev on February 19.
A protester throws a Molotov cocktail in Kiev on February 19.
Protesters clash with police in Independence Square on February 19.
Protesters clash with police in Independence Square on February 19.
Protesters use a compressed air cannon to launch a Molotov cocktail toward police lines in Independence Square on February 19.
Protesters use a compressed air cannon to launch a Molotov cocktail toward police lines in Independence Square on February 19.
A protester hurls a Molotov cocktail toward police on February 19.
A protester hurls a Molotov cocktail toward police on February 19.
Police take cover behind shields as fireworks go off in Kiev on February 19.
Police take cover behind shields as fireworks go off in Kiev on February 19.
Protesters prepare a barricade in Independence Square on February 19.
Protesters prepare a barricade in Independence Square on February 19.
Police form a barrier in Independence Square on February 19.
Police form a barrier in Independence Square on February 19.
Protesters throw rocks at riot police in Independence Square on February 19.
Protesters throw rocks at riot police in Independence Square on February 19.
Independence Square smolders during protests on February 19.
Independence Square smolders during protests on February 19.
A protester throws a cobblestone at riot police during clashes in Independence Square on February 19.
A protester throws a cobblestone at riot police during clashes in Independence Square on February 19.
Riot police officers rest against a column in Independence Square on February 19.
Riot police officers rest against a column in Independence Square on February 19.
An injured protester is moved out during clashes with riot police in Kiev on February 19.
An injured protester is moved out during clashes with riot police in Kiev on February 19.
A protester uses a slingshot to throw a rock at riot police February 19 in Kiev.
A protester uses a slingshot to throw a rock at riot police February 19 in Kiev.
Protesters put on gas masks near the perimeter of Independence Square on February 19.
Protesters put on gas masks near the perimeter of Independence Square on February 19.
Protesters protect themselves with shields as they clash with police in Kiev on February 19.
Protesters protect themselves with shields as they clash with police in Kiev on February 19.
Protesters sleep on the floor inside a Kiev monastery on February 19.
Protesters sleep on the floor inside a Kiev monastery on February 19.
A protester rushes through a broken door in the regional prosecutor's office in Lviv, Ukraine, on February 19. Police said the unrest has spread to western Ukraine, with protesters attacking police and local government offices in a number of regions.
A protester rushes through a broken door in the regional prosecutor's office in Lviv, Ukraine, on February 19. Police said the unrest has spread to western Ukraine, with protesters attacking police and local government offices in a number of regions.
Protesters in Lviv burn papers from a government building on February 19.
Protesters in Lviv burn papers from a government building on February 19.
A protester aims a weapon in Kiev on Tuesday, February 18.
A protester aims a weapon in Kiev on Tuesday, February 18.
A protester runs during clashes with police in Kiev on February 18.
A protester runs during clashes with police in Kiev on February 18.
Violence between police and protesters escalates February 18 in Kiev.
Violence between police and protesters escalates February 18 in Kiev.
Protesters burn a car in central Kiev on February 18.
Protesters burn a car in central Kiev on February 18.
A protester stands atop a barricade in Kiev on February 18.
A protester stands atop a barricade in Kiev on February 18.
Protesters clash with riot police outside Ukraine's parliament in Kiev on February 18.
Protesters clash with riot police outside Ukraine's parliament in Kiev on February 18.
A rainbow forms over a protester ducking for cover in Kiev on February 18.
A rainbow forms over a protester ducking for cover in Kiev on February 18.
Riot police protect themselves during clashes in Kiev on February 18.
Riot police protect themselves during clashes in Kiev on February 18.
A protester is engulfed in flames while running from the clashes in Kiev on February 18.
A protester is engulfed in flames while running from the clashes in Kiev on February 18.
Riot police detain a protester in Kiev on February 18.
Riot police detain a protester in Kiev on February 18.
Protesters invade the main office of the ruling Party of Regions in Kiev on February 18.
Protesters invade the main office of the ruling Party of Regions in Kiev on February 18.
Riot police shield themselves during clashes with protesters on February 18.
Riot police shield themselves during clashes with protesters on February 18.
Protesters throw stones toward riot police in Kiev on February 18.
Protesters throw stones toward riot police in Kiev on February 18.
Ukraine protests turn deadly
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Thursday ended in diplomatic talks that lasted until after dawn.
President Viktor Yanukovych announced Friday that there was a deal, after foreign ministers from France, Germany and Poland met with him and with the opposition.
"After negotiations through the night, talks ended at 7:20," was Poland's top diplomat's cryptic message on the meetings.
But previous recent talks ended with results that sounded good but ended in disaster.
Twice before, this week, there were some concessions and a truce. But they broke down into the heaviest bloodshed seen in this standoff on Kiev's streets that has dragged on since November.
On Tuesday, violent clashes broke out that took the lives of 26 people, protesters and police alike.
International conflict
While Europe's top diplomats pressed for peace, heads of state from the West and Russia phoned one another. UK Prime Minister David Cameron spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin; U.S. President Barack Obama spoke with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden talked with Yanukovych. Yanukovych has also been in touch with Putin and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
Russia has also said it will send a mediator there at Yanukovych's request to negotiate with the opposition.
The international interest in the outcome in this one country is large, and its strife is directly related to it. Ukraine's population has long been divided between historic loyalties to Europe and its eastern neighbor Russia.
The Ukraine is also ethnically divided. Its East is home to many people with Russian roots, who speak Russian. In the rest of country, it's largely people of Ukrainian heritage.
The crisis started, when Yanukovych reversed a decision to sign a trade deal with the European Union and instead turned toward Russia.
The political strife has since ballooned well beyond that one issue, however, including the opposition's pressing constitutional reforms and to shift powers away from the president and to parliament.
Russia has put pressure on Yanukovych to crack down on demonstrators, while Western leaders have urged him to show restraint, allow them more access to government and let the democratic process work out differences.
Both sides have backed up their positions with monetary threats. Russia has said it expects the Ukraine to show strength before it pays out economic relief it has offered.
Washington and European leaders have threatened sanctions against Ukrainian officials over violence and imposed travel restrictions on them.
In an unrelated decision, the U.S. State Department has issued a travel warning for the Ukraine, urging U.S. citizens to postpone travel there due to the violence.
Thursday's bloodshed
The bloodshed began just as police began to withdraw from their positions across from protesters' front lines.
CNN crews at the Maidan reported that as security forces were moving away from the area after the latest truce, a group of protesters pursued them throwing rocks and Molotov cocktails.
Demonstrators did this all under a sky blackened by smoke from their burning barricades, with at least one of them firing toward police lines with a shotgun. Security forces appeared to fight back with automatic weapons and at least one sniper rifle.
The Interior Ministry admitted Thursday that its forces used firearms, explaining that it only did so to protect unarmed police who were in danger.
But Ukraine's parliament later passed a resolution that security forces should stop using guns (something that's already illegal for protesters), back off from their positions around Maidan and denounce the "anti-terror" operation that had been announced earlier.
But whether this Thursday night resolution -- which doesn't need the president's signature -- has an impact remained to be seen.
Police hostages?
In a statement that appeared to increase pressure on protesters, the Interior Ministry said it reserved the right to use force to free about 70 police officers it said had been taken hostage Thursday by protesters.
However, a number of people purporting to be police officers appeared on Ukrainian television saying they had joined protesters of their own free will. It wasn't clear whether those claiming to be police officers were among those allegedly taken hostage.
There was no sign of any captives when CNN crew went Thursday night to where they were thought to be held. A human rights group earlier claimed that any police who'd been held against their will had been released.
In video shot by Radio Free Europe, men wearing what appear to be government uniforms fired at unseen targets with automatic rifles and a sniper rifle with a telescopic sight. CNN could not immediately confirm their target.
However, a doctor volunteering to treat protesters, Olga Bogomolets, accused government forces of shooting to kill, saying she had treated 13 people she believed had been targeted by "professional snipers."
"They were shot directly to their hearts, their brain and to their neck," she said. "They didn't give any chance to doctors, for us, to save lives."
CNN could not independently confirm Bogomolets' claim of sniper fire.
Another video shot by CNN shows a medic trying to help a man on the ground being felled by gunfire.
Blame game
As in the past, finger pointing followed the violence.
Interior Minister Vitali Zakharchenko said the violence had been "provoked exclusively by the opposition leaders," echoing an earlier statement from President Viktor Yanukovych's office accusing protesters of breaking the truce.
"The opposition used the negotiation period to buy time, to mobilize and get weapons to protesters," the statement from the President's office said.
Political tremors
Some people in high positions have left during the crisis.
The head of armed forces was replaced Wednesday by Yanukovych.
And Kiev's mayor resigned from the ruling party. He also reopened the mass transits system, which government officials had shut down to prevent protesters from reaching Independence Square.
The has spread beyond Kiev.
Anti-government protesters have also hit the streets in Lviv -- about 540 kilometers west of Kiev, near the Polish border -- among other locales. Such sentiment is particularly prevalent in western Ukraine, which is more likely to side with Europe and against Yanukovych; Ukraine's east, meanwhile, has tended to support him and closer ties to Russia.
