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.