Ukraine protests: Kiev street battles leave three dead

Violence erupted after police attempted to dismantle a protest camp in the heart of the Ukrainian capital

Prime Minister Mykola Azarov warned on Tuesday that the security forces could use force to remove the protesters.

He told Russian television that if the "provocateurs" did not retreat, security forces could use the controversial new measures that essentially prohibit large protests in the country.

Critics have denounced the new laws as a "dictatorship bill".

On Tuesday Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned the situation in Ukraine was spiralling out of control and urged European governments not to interfere despite heavy criticism of the government response.The protesters are demanding the resignation of Mr Yanukovych and the adoption of a European trade and association pact abandoned under pressure from Russia, which wants Ukraine to remain in its sphere of influence.