http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26249330 18 February 2014 Last updated at 20:06 ET
Ukraine crisis: Police storm main Kiev 'Maidan' protest camp
The BBC's David Stern said the police were slowly moving into Independence Square
Police are storming the main protest camp in Ukraine's capital, Kiev, which has been occupied since November.
Explosions are taking place, fireworks are being thrown and large fires have broken out in Independence Square, known locally as the Maidan.
On Tuesday at least 18 people were killed, including seven policemen, in the worst violence seen in weeks.
Opposition leaders later met President Viktor Yanukovych but failed to find a solution to the crisis.
Vitaly Klitschko, leader of the opposition Udar (Punch) party, told Ukraine's Hromadske TV that the president had given the protesters only one option, leave the Maidan and go home.
At the scene
Marta Shokalo BBC Ukrainian, Kiev
Exactly a month ago, the nation was shocked by the deaths of protesters during clashes with riot police in central Kiev. On Tuesday Ukrainians again saw dead bodies strewn on the city streets, dozens of injured people.
Despite the shock, many came to the main protest camp, the Maidan, to support activists trained to defend barricades from the riot police.
Crowds grew as streams of people, including women, headed to the Maidan. Many had to walk as Kiev's metro was completely shut down for the first time since Ukraine gained independence in 1991.
The authorities said they had closed the metro because of the danger of "terror acts" in the capital.
Meanwhile, Mr Yanukovych's aide said the president was preparing to address the nation, without providing further details.
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