Supporters of President Yanukovych hold rally in central Kiev

Описание: (14 Dec 2013) Tens of thousands of supporters of Ukraine's ruling Party of Regions gathered on Saturday in the capital, Kiev.
"I have supported the Party of Regions since 2004. I should be here. It is my duty to be here because I trust our president," said Serhiy Dovhalyuk, from the eastern city of Lugansk.
The pro-government rally was held in European Square, close to Independence Square where opposition protesters have camped out in freezing conditions.
The prospect of a huge number of government-backers in the vicinity of anti-government protesters has raised fears of provocations that would induce riot police to crack down brutally.
The government staged the rally to counter three weeks of street demonstrations by the opposition.
Galyna Prosvitlyuk from Khmelnytskyi attended the pro-government rally against what she called the 'injustice' from the opposition.
"Most Ukrainians recognise we've had a lot of positive changes. The life in Ukraine is not so bad," Prosvitlyuk said.
President Viktor Yanukovych's refusal to sign a trade and political pact with the European Union last month set off the protests.
The economically troubled nation of 46 million is divided over the EU deal.
Many people in eastern Ukraine, the country's industrial heartland and Yanukovych's support base, want the country to have closer economic ties with Russia.
The opposition has called for a vast turnout on Sunday.
Rallies on the previous two Sundays drew hundreds of thousands of protesters.


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