The United States condemned a violent crackdown on a peaceful anti-government demonstration in Kiev Saturday and called on Ukraine's leaders to respect their people's right to free expression and assembly.

"These are fundamental to a healthy democracy and the respect for universal values on which the United States' partnership with Ukraine depends," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said.

European Union chair Lithuania on Saturday condemned Kiev for forcefully dispersing opposition demonstrators calling for Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych's resignation after he failed to salvage a landmark EU deal.

Dozens of protesters were reported wounded in Ukraine's capital Saturday when baton-wielding police brutally broke up the crowd at a pro-EU rally.

Police in the Ukrainian capital broke up a large anti-government demonstration in the city center before dawn Saturday, swinging truncheons and injuring many.

The riot police used tear gas when they dispersed the crowd of about 400 protesters who were demanding the resignation of President Viktor Yanukovych, demonstrators said. Some at Independence Square were seen bleeding from their heads and arms.

Ukrainian authorities on Friday deployed hundreds of riot police to central Kiev where thousands of protesters gathered after President Viktor Yanukovych failed to salvage a key deal with the European Union.

In a tense atmosphere in the heart of the capital, some 5,000-6,000 demonstrators turned up in the central Independence Square, some chanting "Revolution."

The European Union suffered a setback in its bid to draw ex-Soviet states into the Western fold when jewel-in-the-crown Ukraine refused to sign a landmark political and trade deal years in the making.

Ukraine's snub despite massive pro-EU protests on its streets highlighted a worsening EU-Russia tug-of-war over former Soviet satellites in eastern Europe.

Ukraine said Wednesday it still wanted to reach a historic deal on closer ties with the European Union, as mass protests over a move to scrap the pact went into a fourth day.

Prime Minister Mykola Azarov's announcement failed to appease protesters who blockaded the government building during Wednesday's cabinet session demanding Kiev sign the political and free trade deal at a two-day summit in Vilnius that begins Thursday.

The Russian foreign ministry on Tuesday said it was perplexed by recent European Union accusations that Moscow had pressed Ukraine to scrap a key trade and partnership pact with the 28-member bloc.

"Moscow took note of a joint statement by European Union President Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission head Jose Manuel Barroso over Ukraine," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said Tuesday that Moscow had asked Kiev to delay signing a key pact with Brussels that would have opened Ukraine's path to eventual EU membership.

"Russia suggested to delay the signing (of the EU agreement) and to conduct negotiations" about Kiev restoring closer trade ties with Moscow, Azarov told reporters.

Jailed Ukrainian opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko said on Monday she would begin a hunger strike over a government decision to scrap a key EU pact that sparked huge protests.

Her announcement came as President Viktor Yanukovych pleaded for calm after a second day of nationwide demonstrations over the move.

Ukrainian police fired tear gas Monday at pro-Europe demonstrators staging a second day of protests over the government's decision to scrap a key pact with the EU, which says the offer is "still on the table."

The issue of a pact with the European Union drew tens of thousands people on Sunday to central Kiev chanting 'revolution' and waving flags, in the biggest rally since the pro-West 2004 Orange Revolution overturned a rigged presidential poll and forced a new ballot.