Ukraine’s draconian new law banning protests and public dissent were met with defiance and violence in Kiev.  Cops battled protesters and others who refused to accept any restrictions on the demonstrations against the government of President Viktor Yanukovych.

The fighting went on deep into the night.  Police stun grenades and tear gas were met with petrol bombs and the torching of buses and police vehicles.  The opposition fought to get into parliament, where days earlier MPs approved the anti-opposition law on a voice vote.  It bans unauthorized tents, stages, and audio amplifiers in public places, as well as masks or helmets worn by protesters.  Each provision was disobeyed with contempt for those who approved it.

Earlier, opposition leader and former boxer Vitali Klitschko warned Yanukovych that oppressing the Ukrainian people will not end well.

“You're fighting with your nation.  Stop the escalation.  Don't go the way of (former Romanian President Nicolae) Ceausescu and (former Libyan leader Muammar) Gaddafi,” Klitschko said.  Those leaders were gruesomely killed by their own people.  For his trouble, Klitscho was attacked with a fire extinguisher.

Later as the fighting raged on, Klitschko’s UDAR party said President Yanukovych had agreed to set up a cross-party commission to resolve the crisis.

“The president pledged to create on Monday morning a commission with representatives from the presidential administration, cabinet and opposition to find a solution to the crisis situation,” a party statement quoted the former world heavyweight boxing champion as saying.