Pro, anti government protesters clash

Clashes broke out between pro government supporters and anti-government protesters in Kiev Saturday.

Local TV coverage showed masked anti-government demonstrators kicking and using sticks and baseball bats to beat opposing protesters.

Tensions remain high in Kiev's Independence Square where Monday's deadline to remove barricades and vacate occupied buildings looms.

Some progress was made Saturday to dismantle portions of the barricades as part of a deal with the government.

Anti-government protesters who have been occupying the square and public buildings for the past three months allowed heavy machinery to remove parts of the barricades in exchanged for the negotiated release of detained protesters.

President Viktor Yanukovich- who shunned a trade deal to with the European Union last year-is trying to dampen tensions before he picks a new prime minister.

Although anti-government demonstrators remain highly suspicious about any conciliatory offers fr