Where yesterday the police stayed on the edges of massive anti-government demonstrations in the Ukrainian capital Kiev, cops are now threatening to evict protesters from Independence Square if they don’t clear out on their own by Tuesday.  Some protest camps were already taken down.

The snowy change in the weather mirrored the government’s waning tolerance for the protesters, many of whom are vowing to defend their positions outside government buildings.  Some even set up new barricades even as the cops were taking down others.

The protesters are upset with the government’s rejection of a political and trade deal with the EU they say would have led to greater freedoms and economic opportunities.  The government jilted the EU at the eleventh hour of negotiations last month, and bowed to pressure from Russia which is trying to create an Eastern economic zone to counter the European Union.  People throughout Ukraine are suspicious of Moscow, their abusive former Soviet master.

The standoff has attracted some unlikely supporters.  Hollywood starlet Hayden Panettiere is engaged to boxer Vladimir Klitschko, who with his brother Vitali emerged as leaders of the protest movement.  The two have been together on the front lines, urging protesters to remain non-violent and not to give cops an excuse to attack. 

Leading man and Liberal activist George Clooney is standing with the protesters, albeit from a much greater distance than Panettiere.  In a video message, he told the opposition, “When you look to the west, know that we are looking back at you with great admiration.  We wish you a peaceful and safe mission.  We you the government that you want.”