'Fighting in Ukraine parliament, smoke bomb thrown'

Fighting broke out and smoke bombs were thrown during a session in Ukraine's parliament over a deal with Russia extending the lease of a key naval base, an AFP correspondent reported.

Fighting on Tuesday broke out and smoke bombs were thrown during a session in Ukraine's parliament over a deal with Russia extending the lease of a key naval base, an AFP correspondent reported.

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The scuffles broke out after eggs were thrown at the speaker of the Verkhovna Rada, Volodymr Lytvyn, who then took cover behind two black umbrellas.

The smoke bomb was then thrown from an unknown source and the chamber filled with smoke, making it difficult to watch proceedings. Some deputies covered their noses as alarms sounded.

A second smoke bomb was thrown shortly afterwards, filling the chamber with smoke as deputies nonetheless continued their rancorous debate.

The deputies in the notoriously fractious parliament were takingn part in a session that was to debate a controversial deal last week to extend the lease on Russia's Black Sea Fleet naval base in Ukraine until 2042.