Ukraine protesters deny claim of 'torturing' police officers

Ukrainian protesters have released two police officers they seized and tortured, the head of the country’s police said – but a protest leader said the claim is a provocation aimed at justifying a crackdown.

Interior minister Vitaly Zakharchenko, one of the government figures despised most by protesters, said the two officers were released with the help of negotiations by foreign embassies.

He added that they had been hospitalised, but did not give details of how they were allegedly abused.

Mr Zakharchenko said earlier that the officers were seized by volunteer security guards of the protest gatherings in Kiev.

But the commandant of the corps, Mykhailo Blavatsky, told The Associated Press that no police had been seized.