At least 20 people , including a police man have died, after clashes resumed in Kiev — a deadly escalation of violence in the Ukrainian capital after a ceasefire was issued.

According to a report security forces fired live ammunition at protesters. Molotov cocktails were thrown at police. Medics used the lobby of one hotel as a makeshift hospital to tend to the wounded.

The Foreign Ministers of France, Germany and Poland are reported to be meeting with President Viktor Yanukovych in Kiev.

The European Union will heldan emergency meeting in Brussels on Thurdsay  to consider sanctions.

The wave of violence comes after the country’s embattled president and top opposition leaders met and called for a truce and negotiations.

The two sides are locked in a battle over the identity of this nation of 46 million, whose loyalties are divided between Russia and the West, and parts of the country are in open revolt against the central government.

The latest bout of street violence began Tuesday when protesters attacked police lines and set fires outside parliament, accusing president Yanukovych of ignoring their demands to enact constitutional reforms that would limit the president’s power — a key opposition demand.

Parliament, dominated by his supporters, was stalling on taking up a constitutional reform to limit presidential powers.

The Ukrainian Health Ministry said 28 people died and 287 were hospitalized prior to today’s renewed violence.

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