Ukraine violence toll reaches 35

At least seven people were killed in clashes in Ukraine Thursday, bringing the toll of the three-day violence to 35, the Ukrainian health ministry said.

"On Thursday, a total of 60 people sought medical assistance from ambulance crews, five of whom were hospitalised in serious condition," Xinhua quoted the ministry as saying.

The ministry did not specify the number of deaths on each side of the conflict.

The renewed clashes between the anti-government protestors and police officers erupted in Kiev earlier in Thursday despite efforts between President Viktor Yanukovych and the opposition leaders to stop violence and end the standoff.

On Wednesday, Yanukovych and opposition leaders announced a truce in Kiev to prevent further bloodshed after the outburst of violence.

Protests began in November last year in the country when the government backtracked on a trade deal with the European Union and tilted toward Russia instead.