The US state department has said it is considering all options, including sanctions, towards Ukraine as the political crisis there continues.

It follows attempts by riot police to dislodge anti-government protesters from their strongholds in the capital.

"We are considering policy options... sanctions are included but I am not going to outline specifics," said state department spokesperson Jen Psaki.

"There is a range of options that we are open to, but we are not at that point at this stage."

Earlier, US Secretary of State John Kerry expressed "disgust" at the decision by Ukraine's authorities to "meet the peaceful protest... with riot police, bulldozers, and batons, rather than with respect for democratic rights and human dignity".

Police moved in on the main protest camp in Independence Square in the early hours of Wednesday. They dismantled some barriers and tents saying they were trying to free up a passage through the square for traffic.

Eventually the police pulled back from both Independence Square and city hall, where they made an abortive attempt to oust occupying protesters.

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