Thousands clash with police over EU U-turn in Ukraine

Tens of thousands of protesters have clashed with riot police in central Kiev, Ukraine, after the government made a U-turn away from Europe and towards Russia.

The signing of the association agreement was to be the centre-piece of an EU summit in the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, next Friday and mark a historic swing westwards away from Russia, Ukraine's old Soviet master.

The Kremlin had threatened trade retaliation, arousing fears of cut-offs in supplies of Russian gas to Ukraine and through it to the West.