Ukraine riot police take up position near Kiev's occupied city hall

Interior ministry personnel stand guard during snowfall on a street in Kiev on Monday, Dec 9, 2013. Ukrainian riot police on Monday took up position near Kiev's city hall, which is occupied by pro-Europe protesters demonstrating against a govern
Interior ministry personnel stand guard during snowfall on a street in Kiev on Monday, Dec 9, 2013. Ukrainian riot police on Monday took up position near Kiev's city hall, which is occupied by pro-Europe protesters demonstrating against a government U-turn in trade policy towards Russia, Reuters eyewitnesses said. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

KIEV (REUTERS) - Ukrainian riot police on Monday took up position near Kiev's city hall, which is occupied by pro-Europe protesters demonstrating against a government U-turn in trade policy towards Russia, Reuters eyewitnesses said.

About 200 police, wearing black helmets and carrying shields, poured out of three buses at a cross-roads in central Kiev and took up position about 50m from the building, but made no move towards it.

After a court order was issued for the protesters to quit the building, police last week told those inside that they had four days to leave or be ejected.

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