for street fights are reported in kioto with anti government rioters shooting at police again the death toll from the recent violence which was at least eighty with hundreds more interest. radicals refused to leave the streets despite the president promising and number of concessions including early elections and a major overhaul of our writers say they will only accept his resignation. as western powers seem to be ignoring the vast arsenal now in the hands of the protesters as the e.u. and washington slap a large part of the blame on the government. international

news and comment live from moscow you're watching r.t. international with me here should our thanks for joining us. and we start with breaking news from ukraine now where the country's president has announced a hill be calling early presidential elections following the unrest wish to seize the country all the details later but earlier reportedly protesters reportedly started attacking police in the streets of kiev again and here you can see will the city looks like after days of deadly riots saying at least eighty lives have been lost since the rest began on cheese day and that's just their fishel figure their position is that the number of casualties is much higher eyewitness reports are numerous videos show dozens of bodies lying openly in the streets covered only by the same blankets the number of those injured is in the hundreds. of square has more now on the president's move to reconciliation and the reaction of the radical opposition. well this is so far the biggest concession coming from the president he

says that he will initiate early presidential ballots although the date for that ballot is not specified also he says that the country will return to the constitution of two thousand and four providing that more authority will be given to the parliament than the president and also he says that he will now initiate the procedure forming a coalition government which will obviously going to contain many those of the opposition many politicians from the opposition side definitely this is a big concession but as far as we can hear from the independence square the protesters are not ready to take on these conditions they have and they have only one demand after which they would be able to hold some kind of peace talks that is that the media is resignation off at present and also they have been saying some of them have been saying that he needs to go on trial so their mood is pretty much defined as ever we also have information from the interior ministry a little earlier that some of the protesters have broken the cease fire and fired

live rounds at the police nads next to the parliament building also they have been reports of several attempts to storm the parliament although all these attacks have been reportedly repelled so despite what the president believes to be an attempt to find a peaceful solution to impose some sort of truce this does not look like a truce at all in fact we've been there before last night on wednesday the opposition to government is to agree on the troops but on thursday morning we all know what happened the one of the oldest hotels in the central part of kiev turned into a real fortress with lots of fire with lots of live shots being fired all around it we were caught in the middle of this crossfire something i will tell you in my report. truce it did not seem like that at all in the early hours of thursday morning despite a ceasefire agreed during the night by politicians right wing rioters made it clear they will not listen to anyone and will not lay down their. so what we have now is

that we have a radical elements that we have a radical. militant mob there which is somehow here and driven by especially as we see using snipers and so on and which is not controlled neither by the opposition neither by the west directly so everything went out of control beyond the opposition as it is now they want they want to take power from a democratically elected government and for a new foreign ministers to not be condemning what we have seen this week is absolutely appalling it's intolerable he it was consumed as the raging ground and police trying to hold them back exchanged fire crew even got caught in the middle of it at one point so this is our day started in kiev who were trying to do a live shot for one of the live positions we're getting ready when somebody fired

a sniper shot from the window breaking the glass and hitting the wall you can see for yourself this is definite suggesting a live round was fired here and later in one of the rooms of aa we found this a seven sixty two bullet for some time in the hotel located next to independence square became a fortress under siege windows and walls were riddled with bullet holes and snipers from the protest movement occupy the top floor well the lobby was turned into something else altogether and this is not your typical hotel lobby now its reception desk is a makeshift hospital where the injured and the dead have been brought here all throughout the day i'll ask one of the doctors what exactly had to deal with here during the day your game is going to put out this gym with your disability we've dealt with a lot of wounded people mostly gunshot wounds many of them died snipers were operating shoot to kill policy. when the sun set on after another day of bitter violence more dead and injured looted this street. and the true slowly. radicals

continue to demand a revolution before it to the end and which is for now nowhere in sight looks you research d r t do you agree so i would say it is unclear for us keeping an eye on the latest developments in crisis rate in ukraine if you want to be updated on this story you can always follow him on his twitter feed where he is posting the most up to date news from independence square the ukrainian parliament has passed a resolution that would see anti-terrorist operations put on hold and government forces withdraw from kiev more than a dozen policemen have been captured by rioters you can see them being escorted to one of the protests headquarters there so far sixteen officers have been killed and more than a hundred injured spoke to a former member of the armed response unit of london's metropolitan police force and he gave us his take on the actions of both the rioters and they also are issues in. what we're seeing is

a situation that's moved from protests and conflict into what is really have was turned on a little earlier commentator into a revolution so i think it's going beyond that you know if it's the place we'll all be in the situation now then i think we would be coming militarized anyone so we are not talking about the usual policing of protests but we are talking of something of a much higher level so i think it's probably unavoidable is going beyond that point on both sides this is because i struggle between greater forces of minorities are on the street there are great political issues here there are wider implications concerning the democracy in the finance etc. and on our website home we've been following the dramatic change in caves landscape that once picturesque independence square in kiev is shown in contrast to what it looks like now a wasteland clots and with debris and rubble as people think about way through a raging fire is and the people most suffering from the unrest about those who

attempt to protest peacefully says derek long drive from the foreign policy in focus think. it is very troubling specifics from a political standpoint were the current to different structures which are probably the most aggressive in the world friday are really beyond any control the only control of the people who are really protesting peacefully also beyond control of the nature to the position products so it's basically a state of flux and we're inching toward party or faction when it's slowed where there is a. will where that might be their own interests or all of this is going to come out of control and to be sort of really are doing whatever they feel it's necessary for them to achieve their own goals which out of this point i'm not even sure what the goals really are because it seems to be changing from hour to hour minute to minute . from care of chaos quickly spread to western ukraine the region is traditionally critical of the pro eastern government and people there showing support for the

nationwide riots extremists and some of the largest cities the government buildings by force in the city of lutes rioters drunk being governor on stage and and kept him to a metal pole after he refused to step down and he is now laval where riot is a time a local administration with a lot of cocktails and stakes they've been looted some of the military equipment including hundreds of firearms and bottles only to give it away to people protesting against the government the same happened in other nearby cities made forms stones and guns rule he's taken trial of government offices. but it's not only in western ukraine where people have been out on the streets in the mall pro-government east locals are organizing themselves against the riots and here's what some of them have to phase in height of protesters are blocking the city hall the police headquarters even there where the support for the current president is historically high radicals have

a tight security forces and government offices were also blocked in one of the biggest cities near profiteroles but people have been forming militia schools and joining forces with the police and they seem determined to fight off the radical threat. this idea originated in the minds of our petri it's when there is a difficult situation the nationalist contagion spreads across ukraine when we come to one region after another when the attack ordinary citizens people organize unite and create a structure of self defense. in the past week riot has in kiev have managed to have a lead on themselves getting a lot of coke's hail in the ukrainian capital doesn't seem to be all that difficult with the weapon becoming a popular choice homemade catapults and by adding to the medieval appearance to the bloodshed rioters gold bare hands on modern firearms as well with snipers keeping the center of kiev in their sights and forcing out the death toll but all this

evidence of violence by the rioters is not enough to sway western politicians the u.s. state department is placing all responsibility on the authorities imposing travel ban sanctions on some officials this follows similar statements from high ranking e.u. officials they claim it's peaceful protesters who have been taking a battering from the government and urging those in power to take action and curb the violence but russia's foreign minister says the west had added its fuel to the conflict often encouraging extremists in the streets and the direction of the antiwar answer coalition brian becker believes western countries support rioters with a clear political goal in mind. the united states and the e.u. the nato powers have been using all kinds of pressure on the ukraine government with the effort to bring the ukraine into the e.u. which means to bring it into nato right on russia's border and in november what they did is they gave an ultimatum to the ukraine government you either make

a decision now feel with russia or b. with the e.u. no other choice then they outlined the plan which was to impose extreme austerity measures on the ukrainian people as part of the admission policy to get into the e.u. then of course they helped castigate or create these protests and now as the protesters are using extreme violence as the government is using violence and as the government is trying to maintain order you in the u.s. and the e.u. saying now we will impose sanctions for the use of violence so this is a full court press this is pressure what's the real purpose i think it's to break up the ukrainian government with the hopefully we can in their government toppling that government and getting a government that will take the country into the e.u. into the western sphere of influence and this has to be seen by russia as a great threat seen as a blazing barricades people on fire as one is dead and wounded being carried away from the streets of on t. dot com you'll find some of the most apocalyptic images from k have that have

shocked and wild. stay with us for no news out of the break. so i transit through to vnukovo report your best way to the heart of moscow.

the world of. science technology innovation all the list of elements from around russia we've got the future covered. and of course we are in all of this is the interest of the united states to create a situation. brings up a regime change which has been their policy all the time goes to all of our revolution. this is an international welcome. aid processes have been found guilty of inciting mass and wes and moscow and assaulting police in a case dating back to twenty twelve the defendants refused the chargers on the

crowd of supporters has formed outside the courthouse let's go now live to aussie's diapers the has the details for us daria what did the judge have to say well indeed the corps did find eight people guilty of inciting unrest and using force against law enforcers the prosecution had initially demanded between five to six years in prison for them however none of them pleaded guilty and the defense was actually saying that the protest could not be considered as a mass riot however some of those convicted were actually a videotaped while fighting policeman and throwing rocks at them and just to remind you on the sixth of may two thousand and twelve there were authorized peaceful demonstrations taking place against the violations in earlier parliamentary elections taking place in the central moscow and then the violent clashes with the police erupted as a result dozens of people were injured and over four hundred people were detained

now charges were filed against twenty nine people for inciting massive arrest in the criminal investigation was opened into mass disorders and as we know some of those people were indeed using violence against the bill. sman however those who did not eight of the suspects were actually released at the end of last year in december as part of a wide amnesty and then this week another three defendants in the case have also been amnestied now earlier. over the rioters have already been sentenced to two and a half years and four and a half years in prison and a one other defendant a was ordered by the board to be sent to a psychiatry hospital now it has to be said that the case has resonated strongly through the russian society and there have been various rallies in support of the

suspects and. across russia and there are a huge well not huge but a big crowd gathered in front of the board in support of those people who are against which the sentence has been announced and some people on these social networks even say they may take out into the streets of why no decision of the court is being announced and we don't know yet what it's going to be and how much they're going to get but indeed they have already been found guilty. over live from moscow daria thank you very much indeed for that update. almost three quarters of a million houses in the u.k. are standing empty this at a time when there's a scene where a shortage of residential buildings boyko went to one of london's most prestigious streets has become a symbol of britain's bricks and mortar crisis. the bishop's avenue in north london

is one of the most expensive streets in europe it's been home to saudi royalty film stars and media tycoon use this mansion is on the market for sixty five million pounds but some of the other properties here tell a different story an investigation by the guardian newspaper has revealed that large swathes of the most expensive part of the street have fallen into disrepair because no one is living in them that's about three hundred fifty million pounds worth of property boarded up and standing vacant but even as they stand derelict these houses are getting more expensive a former pakistani minister bought this house back in two thousand and seven for twelve million pounds it's now back on the market and expected to sell for thirty million pounds and it's a wreck there's nothing wrong with the road it is quite normal to have. maybe ten

or twenty percent of the properties as we call it in the state of flux bishops avenue is off the wall and iconic road which is one of the best known names in the world and therefore it protects your investment it's a status symbol so for most people coming into this country i'm for local buzz bishops ticks a lot of books and but away from the leafy avenue the u.k. is in the midst of a housing crisis homeless charity shelter of warm but house prices are spiraling out of control because of a shortage of affordable housing last year in london alone over one hundred eighty thousand people were on waiting lists for social housing against this backdrop critics say this so-called house hoarding shouldn't be allowed to take place a lot of these things are actually people are buying to leave their land banking they're just buying property in london because they think it's

a good investment it's not actually a home it's just an investment and that they're just doing it to money and housing should be the people's homes not just about investing in making money the problem is spreading to other affluent areas of london such as kensington and chelsea even the mer of london has waded in saying that london properties on blocks of bullion which rich often overseas investors can just park their money and councils now have the right to charge an extra hundred fifty percent in tax on the homes that are being lived in or rented out but local forty's complain that for the people that are invested in these houses that's just loose change polly boyko r c london. only three days now remain the twenty second winter olympic games though the auction is an if in the bud dying down in salt.

ho for the first time in its history russia has taken an olympic gold medal in the ladies figure skating daughter shiloh it was seventeen year old adelina sotnikova defied the odds with her performance which ended with a standing ovation from the stands andrew farmer has all the details. it was a stunning victory but also a major upset because if they could ever manage to defeat south korea's favorite yuna kim but also stepped in to save the day for russia after union lipsky fell for a second night in a row but certainly giver managed to stay as cool as the ice under her blades to claim that historic gold and afterwards we spoke to each. player like every coach wants his that lead to be the best especially in special competitions like the olympics had a long hard journey for her to find herself there were tears and false but shoulders got up and she found her way because she has real fighting spirit and that gold medal does count remarkable olympic games russian figure skaters but it

has to be said they have gone through more twists and turns than a hollywood script both on and off the ice if you remember it all started with the yearly gold medals in the pairs and team event but then we saw you get the play shank of the veteran having to pull out of his individual event with a bad back and then we saw the rising star fifteen year old sky fall during her individual event and many people are saying that was because she was buckling under media pressure she shocked to stardom after that fabulous performance in the team event but then after that the media scrutiny was so intent she felt that she had to leave sochi and train in moscow before returning to try and get a medal in the individual event which of course did not happen now i want to say many people have been speculating look simply you've been putting too much pressure on young shoulders and that's why she filed and of course while we're talking about this it does reassert russia as a powerhouse in figure skating but there have been other breakthrough sports at

these games for russia too particularly short track speed skating where they got their first gold medal in that just a few days to go and going for more medals in that sport today from russia a victor and blood in me going to go already. and while there may only be a few days of olympic anxious left the host city is wasting no time when gearing up for the future plans to become the capital of entertainment tailoring to everyone from children to the thrill seekers amongst us and his last mantras has. hold on to your hats this is such as you've never seen before. a.j. hackett bungee has been stretching mine since ninety eight sixty starting out with he met new zealand in pursuit of the ultimate adrenaline buzz almost three decades and two point five million bungee jumps later the company has set up shop in russia facing the world's longest pedestrian suspension bridge and the world's highest

swing facilities are aimed to impress this is by far the most ambitious project was . the most interesting in the most beautiful we've already done some private jumps from the sixty major germ that feels wonderful. and we normally opening opening to the public sometime later in june this year. so it will be. an adventure park in the trees here and so it becomes really the world's biggest adventure playground. with spectacular views of the black sea in the caucasus mountains the park will also have russia's highest bungee jump at two hundred meters as well as chief giant flying foxes that will catapult white knuckle guests across the gigantic gorge. and what a shame it is closed i really would have liked to have jumped off yes really i just

look at the view absolutely incredible and this is the flying fox station where thrill seekers will be catapulted across the valley here at a staggering one hundred and sixty kilometers per hour. the centuries old ritual has changed dramatically from the days of jumping off trees attached to vine leaves the technology is different now but the process of leap of faith stays the same taking people right out. of their comfort zones and a bit further. once over the summer this new addition to the world of adrenaline junkies and extreme sports will only have to suck she spotlights on the international mouse it just might not be for the faint hearted martha andrews artspeak. and there are plenty of competitions underway again in salt giving more accolades a chance to ride the names in history and without

a special coverage will be telling you all about it throughout the day. the g twenty four team promised to be able to make an exhilarating winter in our team a team you still need and you say no way i'm a criminal and the rest of our lives take news team for sochi twenty four take. on our team. and half a samoan global headlines this hour so side bombers have attacked a police compound near the afghan capital killing at least one policeman and wounding two more if the all the armed gunmen were disguised in burkas and detonated a device outside the building before three of them went inside the town of analysts claimed responsibility has claimed responsibility for the raid. protests in venezuela against the government and to their ninth day with acts of its burning debris in the counter so that part of rallies dominated by students that have spread to several cities across the country demonstrations turned violent just over

a week ago leaving two people dead and dozens injured. a fierce gun fight is now raging near the presidential palace and these somalian compas oh after mentors the blew a hole in the premier fans with a car bomb the islamist terrorist group al-shabaab has claimed responsibility for that time seven people were killed last week like explosion targeting the officials or through a busy street near the border. and sophie and co is up next after the break.

recently swiss voters nearly passed a referendum to put a strict quota back on immigration switzerland is a relatively small country and some estimate that almost a quarter of the population is made up of immigrants from e.u. countries that is a lot of people and the swiss are worried that the increased foreigners will also mean increased crime rent prices birth of the state and erode traditional local culture as modern immigration almost always does this was populations democratic choice. to restrict immigration is now actually being blasted by the e.u. brass with threats to cancel bilateral agreements how dare you have a different version of democracy than we in the have switzerland how dare you i don't think this event will have much effect on the e.u. bureaucratic machine nothing could make them change their hyper liberal minds but i think the swiss anti immigration referendum will have a huge effect on local populations of countries like germany and the u.k. which are seeing horrible effects of open borders and growing anti e.u. sentiment as i speak i don't like to make predictions by i think a lot of disenfranchised people across the e.u. are going to become quite jealous of the swiss move and demand the same type of

changes at home but that's just my opinion. we speak your language not a day and. use programs and documentaries and spanish what matters to you. a little tuna tip angle is stories. that spanish find out more visit. welcome to said to me says the shevardnadze and

a government and rest invented suellen his spiralling out of control with every side blaming the other for the house of the government because what this serious political crisis when i ask somebody who has a view from the inside i'm just is that as a member of president george bush cabinet is our guest today. street fighting is raging on the streets of the venezuelan capital with commandante shah is gone his rivals are taking a shot at his successor and the white house has already voiced its support for regime change how will caracas stop the violence is washington times and it for the country's economic woes to play does venezuela's socialist dream of a future. and understands our ice our guests today a member of president maduro cabin that thanks very much for being with us he's joining us.