9 cops among 26 killed in Ukraine

Police in the Ukrainian capital Kiev have launched a fresh attack on anti-government protesters as the death toll in renewed clashes has climbed to 26. The new attempt to uproot the protest stronghold came as President Yanukovych blamed opposition leaders for the worst violence in months of unrest. In a statement, the health ministry said on Wednesday the number of dead on both sides had risen to 25. Nine of those killed were police. A journalist has also died. After failed overnight talks, violence erupted outside parliament on Tuesday morning as government supporters blocked opposition attempts to scale back the president's constitutional powers. Correspondents say it was unclear what sparked the clashes, with each side blaming the other. Fighting spread to surrounding streets and police launched a first attack on Independence Square on Tuesday evening, according to BBC.