KIEV, Ukraine - Riot police broke through barriers and in a matter of minutes Wednesday morning briefly swept away the protesters who had been confronting them with stones and Molotov cocktails on Hrushevsky Street since Sunday. The move came just moments after the opposition had announced that one demonstrator had died of a gunshot wound, apparently inflicted by a sniper, during the night. Another demonstrator died after he fell off an entry arch at Dynamo Stadium. The police troops did not immediately turn the corner at the bottom of the street and head toward Independence Square, where a peaceful encampment has existed since Nov. 21. Instead, they pulled back to their lines, and the Hrushevsky Street quickly filled again with angry protesters. The police appeared to catch only a few stragglers on Hrushevsky Street. They carried one, occasionally beating him, back past the barricade of burnt out buses and through a backup line of police, who were beating their shields in appreciation. A live video feed showed other police troops starting to clear away debris. Several had whipped out their phones and were taking photos of the scene. A few protesters who had been caught were escorted by police on foot. One had a bloody head wound. The attack, at just after 8 a.m., took place on a Ukrainian holiday - Unification Day. It is sure to drive an even deeper divide between the government of President Viktor Yanukovych and the broad opposition movement that seeks his ouster. The confrontation on Hrushevsky Street had complicated the task for the leaders of the opposition who have tried to maintain a peaceful protest and have denounced violence as self-defeating. But the sight of fierce young men, in helmets and homemade body armor, had thrilled thousands of spectators who didn't take direct part in the clashes. Several hundred have been reported wounded on both sides. Last night brought the first two deaths. By 8:30 Wednesday hard-hat-wearing protesters were back at the line of buses, throwing paving stones at the police.