WASHINGTON
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden urged Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych to keep an open dialogue with the opposition in a telephone conversation on Tuesday.
Biden asked Yanukovych to pull back riot police, release detained protesters, and to make sure that those responsible for beatings should be held accountable and attacks on journalists and protesters, as part of efforts to reduce tensions and build trust with the protesters according to the White House press office.
Biden also emphasized that only more dialogue can lead to a new government that will have the Ukrainian people's confidence.
Protests have been taking place in Kiev since November after President Yanukovych decided not to sign a trade agreement with the European Union (EU) in favor of closer ties with Russia. Yanukovych pushed parliament to pass a measure providing amnesty to many arrested protesters, but he has made no moves to work with the opposition since last week.
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