Ukrainian Communist Party (CPU) leader Petro Symonenko urged the widest possible dialogue of all political forces "to defend the interests of the Ukrainian people in the preservation of territorial integrity."

In a letter to communist and other left-wing parties, he asked for ongoing international "support and co-operation in the difficult struggle for our common principles and objectives."

He denounced a campaign of blackmail, intimidation, beatings and illegal seizures of the party's property and media.

The CPU headquarters in Kiev has been occupied by so-called "revolutionaries," along with property belonging to the party and its employees.

A similar fate has befallen its offices in other parts of the country, while hundreds of Soviet-era monuments were destroyed.

Mr Symonenko claimed that there was no longer any semblance of law and order in Ukraine, with nationalist, far-right and other radical armed groups gaining strength.

"The situation is actually out of control and the current leaders of the law enforcement system, who consist of 's opposition, at best have no influence on the armed groups and at worst are silent partners in the lawlessness that reigns in Ukraine," he said.

The CPU leader said that it had long been the dream of Ukrainian nationalist forces and the Western superpowers to fully suppress the communist movement in Ukraine.

He pointed out that, even before the tragic clashes in Kiev of February 20-22 led to the deaths of over 100 Ukrainians, his party had warned of the dangers of foreign intervention.

Ukrainian Communists remain committed to "a broad dialogue between all political forces in Ukraine to stabilise the tense situation."

State power must be decentralised in the country, he stressed, to make the political and justice system more accountable.

"Our calls were not heeded by either the then president Yanukovych or the leaders of the then opposition, putting Ukraine on the brink of social, public and social divisions, leading to the current anarchy," Mr Symonenko declared.

He said that federalisation and devolving power to the regions would be able to preserve the territorial integrity "and create the conditions for a return to peace, harmony and understanding."