MOSCOW, February 18 (RAPSI) - Almost 40 people saught medical attention as a result of a violent clash between protesters and the police in downtown Kiev, a Kiev City Healthcare department spokesperson Natalia Vyshnevskaya told RIA Novosti on Tuesday.

Earlier it was reported that Ukrainian Interior Ministry started an investigation over a dead body that was found near the office of ruling Party of Regions in downtown Kiev.

Thousands of demonstrators moved toward the parliament building armed with shields, masks and bats and throwing stones at police, who responded with rubber bullets, stun grenades and tear gas. Protesters occupied the offices of the country’s ruling Party of Regions in the center of Kiev after reportedly throwing a smoke bomb inside.

Opposition forces are seeking the restoration of the 2004 constitution, which they say would ensure a way out of the political crisis gripping the country.

Kiev and other Ukrainian cities have been rocked by mass anti-government street protests since President Viktor Yanukovych backed away from signing a series of agreements with the EU in November in favor of cementing ties with Russia.