Rioters and police in central Kiev are exchanging smoke and stun grenades, as a fresh wave of violence is gripping the Ukrainian capital. While the rioters have no clear demands, the opposition keeps pushing for the president’s resignation.

16:01 GMT:

The EU has voiced deep concern about the escalating violence in Ukraine, urging the government to resolve the crisis.

"I am deeply worried about the grave new escalation in Kiev and the reported victims. I condemn all use of violence, including against public or party buildings," European Union foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, said in a statement.

"I urge the leadership of Ukraine to address the root causes of the crisis ... Political leaders must now assume their shared responsibility to rebuild trust and create the conditions for an effective solution to the political crisis," she said.

16:00 GMT:

Officials have confirmed that travel in Kiev’s metro system has been suspended. Normal services will be restored as soon as the situation in the city calms down. According to the city’s administration head, Vladimir Makeenko, overground transport is working overtime and is currently free of charge: new routes, together with extra vehicles, are being organized at each metro station.

15:47 GMT:

Ukraine’s Justice Minister said that the opposition has violated the agreement reached during the negotiations and urged an immediate ceasefire.

"The protest, which was announced yesterday by the opposition as a peaceful demonstration, has today begun as an armed confrontation of extremists. The opposition has ignored appeals by Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich and the leaders of the EU, US and Russia for a peaceful settlement of the conflict," said Elena Lukash in a statement, according to the presidential website.

She added that the opposition leaders are “personally responsible” for the escalation of the conflict, and urged them to stop the violence and start negotiations.

15:26 GMT:

Ukrainian police are storming the so-called House of Ukraine in central Kiev, which has been occupied by the protesters, Interfax-Ukraine reports citing witnesses. People are reportedly being evacuated from the building.

On Independence Square (Maidan), opposition activists and radical groups have reportedly been relocating from tents to the House of Trade Unions and to the Right Sector headquarters. Earlier, some 200 riot police were seen moving towards Maidan, and dismantling the barricades surrounding the square. All Kiev metro stations have been closed, according to metro officials, as cited by Interfax-Ukraine.

15:01 GMT:

Two people died after rioters stormed, pillaged and set ablaze the Kiev office of the ruling Ukrainian Party of Regions earlier on Tuesday, Interfax reports, citing party officials and the State Emergency Service of Ukraine. Firefighters have also been working at the mayor of Kiev’s office building, which was reportedly set on fire by the radicals.

Meanwhile, two dead bodies of a man and a woman were seen lying on the barricades in central Kiev. The opposition has claimed that three people have been killed in clashes with the police on Thursday, and seven more are in critical condition, Interfax quotes Batkivshchyna (Fatherland) deputies as saying.

14:45 GMT:

A 18:00 (16:00 GMT) deadline for the rioters has been set by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the Ukrainian Ministry of Interior to end the fresh wave of unrest in Kiev.

A statement issued by the SBU urges the protesters to return to the negotiation table and threatens the opposition with the use of force, in accordance with the Ukrainian law, if they do not comply.

SBU’s statement describes the situation in the Ukrainian capital as “chaos,” claiming that “extremists from the opposition have crossed the red line – they are killing innocent people on the streets… torturing women, setting ablaze and blowing up buildings and vehicles.”

The agency also accuses the opposition of masterminding the riots in order to gain power.

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