DHAKA: Thousands of pro-Europe demonstrators are marching through the Ukrainian capital in protest at president Viktor Yanukovych’s refusal to sign an EU trade deal.

Crowds gathered in a park before moving toward Kiev’s Independence Square, in defiance of a court order banning rallies in the city centre.

They are demanding new elections, and the impeachment of the president.

Police violently dispersed activists on Saturday, injuring dozens of people.

The president said he was ‘outraged’ by the violence, but Ukraine’s interior minister warned on Sunday that police would respond if there were mass disturbances.

The BBC says the latest action may be bigger than last weekend’s demonstration, which attracted 50,000-100,000 supporters.

Jailed opposition leader and ex-prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko urged Ukrainians ‘not to leave the authorities’ actions unanswered’.

In a message read by her daughter on Saturday, Tymoshenko urged Ukrainians, ‘Fly, drive, walk to Kiev from all parts of Ukraine, but gather everyone on 1 December’.

BDST: 1900 HRS, DEC 01, 2013