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Ukrainian riot police clashed Monday with supporters of former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko outside the courtroom where she is on trial after a judge again rejected pleas for her to be freed from custody.

A Reuters witness said that scores of "Berkut" special forces tussled with people on Kiev's main thoroughfare as they tried to clear a path for a police van to drive Ms. Tymoshenko away.

Earlier, the presiding judge rejected for a third time pleas from Ms. Tymoehsnko's lawyers for the 50-year-old politician to be released from police custody.

She is trial on a charge of abuse of office.

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