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Death Toll From Kiev Street Clashes Rises to 28

Death toll from Kiev street clashes rises to 28. Mstyslav Chernov

At least 28 people have died and hundreds of others have been injured during this week's standoff between police and anti-government protesters in Kiev, the Health Ministry said.

A total of 445 people have sought medical help for their injuries, and 287 of them have been hospitalized, the ministry said on its website on Thursday.

Among those hospitalized were 88 police officers, six journalists, four youths under the age of 18, two foreign citizens and a lawmaker from the opposition Fatherland political party, Vasiliy Pazenyak.

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych declared Thursday a day of mourning for the victims of the clashes between anti-government protesters and riot police.

The protests in Kiev began last fall after Ukraine pulled out of a planned association deal with the European Union in favor of closer ties with Russia.

The demonstrations soon took on a wider political tone, however, with demands for the government's resignation escalating into large-scale clashes this week.

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