KIEV, Ukraine — Riot police in Ukraine's capital used tear gas, truncheons and flash grenades to push back protesters who tried to storm the presidential administration building.
Dozens of people with what appeared to be head injuries were taken away by ambulance. About 100 police were injured, authorities said.
More than 100,000 demonstrators rallied on Independence Square in the biggest show of anger yet over President Viktor Yanukovych's refusal to sign an agreement with the European Union.
During Sunday's demonstration, several thousand people broke away and attempted to storm the nearby presidential administration building.
The demonstrators sang the national anthem and chanting "Ukraine is Europe," while waving EU and Ukrainian flags
The crowd chanted "Revolution!" and "Down with the gang" as it took control of Kiev's iconic Independence Square, while protesters steered a bulldozer within striking distance of police barricades protecting the nearby presidential administration office.
AFP reporters saw security forces outside the presidential building fire stun grenades and smoke bombs at a few dozen masked demonstrators who were pelting police with stones and what Ukrainian media said were molotov cocktails.
Protests have been held daily in Kiev for more than a week after President Viktor Yanukovych backed away from an agreement that would have established free trade and deepened political cooperation between Ukraine and the EU. He justified the decision by saying Ukraine could not afford to break trade ties with Russia.
The EU agreement was to have been signed Friday and since then the protests have gained strength. Many of those taking part in Sunday's protest came from western Ukraine, where pro-EU sentiment is particularly strong.
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