off in Kiev as talks awaited The BBC's Daniel Sandford described a scene of "serious devastation" in Kiev Ukrainian demonstrators remain in a tense stand-off with police in central Kiev a day after anti-government protests erupted into violence. Clashes broke out as some protesters tried to reach parliament on Sunday. It followed weeks of mainly peaceful action against Kiev's decision to spurn a political agreement with the EU, and then to toughen anti-protest laws. President Viktor Yanukovych says he is now ready to negotiate with pro-EU protesters and opposition leaders. Opposition leaders confirmed this, but there were few other details. On the road leading from Europe Square to parliament, riot police were still standing behind shields on Monday morning, lined up against dozens of protesters who had camped out overnight despite temperatures dropping well below freezing. The BBC's Daniel Sandford described how some protesters could be seen preparing petrol bombs, and others threw occasional missiles at the police, who fired the odd shot of tear gas back. EU foreign ministers, arriving for a meeting in Brussels, called for calm. The most solid package of repressive laws that I have seen enacted by a European parliament in decades End Quote Carl Bildt Swedish Foreign Minister "I absolutely deplore the violence that occurred," British Foreign Secretary William Hague said, calling it "a mistake" for the government to have introduced restrictions on protest. But he said "we welcome" the government's apparent willingness to talk to the opposition. Meanwhile, Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt called the government's curbs "the most solid package of repressive laws that I have seen enacted by a European parliament in decades." The measures, which were hastily voted through on Thursday, include: The ruling party of President Yanukovych says the legislation is in line with European standards. The BBC's Daniel Sandford in Kiev said there were 'waves' of attacks Late on Sunday, Mr Yanukovych's press office said a "working group" headed by National Security and Defence Secretary Andriy Kluyev would be set up. Both the government and opposition leaders appeared to blame a small group of protesters - reportedly far-right activists - for starting the violence on Sunday. Interior ministry spokesman Serhiy Burlakov called them "provocateurs and extremists" and urged people not to follow their lead. After meeting President Yanukovych at his residence outside Kiev, opposition leader Vitali Klitschko said he would take part in talks to resolve the crisis. Arseniy Yatseniuk, another opposition leader, said he had also spoken to the president. "We must use every opportunity to resolve the crisis peacefully," Mr Klitschko, the former world heavyweight boxing champion, said.