Ukrainian opposition leader Vitaly Klitschko blamed the government for escalating violence in an article published on Thursday, as another protest leader called for the President to stand down, and the death toll reached at least three.

International mediators opened a series of meetings with the Syrian Government and Opposition on Thursday in an 11th—hour bid to secure their participation in peace talks scheduled for the next day.

US President Barack Obama spoke via phone to Russian President Vladimir Putin on a number of issues namely the Syrian question and Iran’s nuclear programme.