Ukraine on edge after deadly clashes between protesters, security forces

Kiev, Ukraine (CNN) -- Protests. Talks. Violence. Protests. Talks. Violence.
By early Friday morning, the lone positive point was that -- for the time being -- Ukraine's cycle of political and physical infighting was not then at its bloodiest point, as it had hours earlier. Prodded by foreign diplomats, the key players were then talking about not just a bandage for the violence but also a more long-term political solution and maybe the beginnings of healing.
Yet the facts of the last three months and, particularly, the last week show that it's way too early to celebrate or savor any peace. There have been two truces since Sunday. Each of them collapsed suddenly into carnage centered in Kiev's Maidan, or Independence Square.
The latest bloodshed was also the worst since the unrest began.
CNN crews at the scene reported that as security forces were moving away from the area after the latest truce, a group of protesters pursued them throwing rocks and Molotov cocktails.
Demonstrators did this all under a sky blackened by smoke from their burning barricades, with at least one of them firing toward police lines with a shotgun. Security forces appeared to fight back with automatic weapons and at least one sniper rifle.
In video shot by Radio Free Europe, men wearing what appear to be government uniforms fired at unseen targets with automatic rifles and a sniper rifle with a telescopic sight. CNN could not immediately confirm their target.