The World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) and the World Editors Forum have protested to Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych against the attacks by security services on at least 47 journalists who are covering pro-European Union protests around Kiev.
"Given the horrific images and detailed accounts WAN-IFRA has received from independent, verified sources in Ukraine over the last 48 hours, your public commitment to free speech and an independent media appear to have been entirely undermined by the actions of your own security services," the organisations said a letter to the president, which called for immediate independent investigations of the attacks.
"It is imperative the media be permitted to carry out their essential role of informing the public at this crucial time for democracy in Ukraine," said the letter