Lion Kills Man Who Went Into Kiev Zoo Cage

Two lionesses rest in the Ukrainian capital's zoo, a day after a man who climbed into their enclosure was killed, in Kiev Monday June 5, 2006. The lion attacked the 45-year-old Ukrainian late Sunday after he used a rope to climb down into an enclosure with four lions, said Kiev police spokesman Volodymyr Polishchuk. He said the man, who was not identified, was acting aggressively and the lion seized him by the throat. The man, an ethnic Azerbaijani, died at the scene. (AP Photo/Sergei Chuzavkov) (Sergei Chuzavkov - AP)

KIEV, Ukraine -- A lion killed a man who climbed into its enclosure at the Kiev zoo, police said Monday.

The lion attacked the 45-year-old Ukrainian late Sunday after he used a rope to climb down into an enclosure with four lions, said police spokesman Volodymyr Polishchuk.

Ukrainian TV channel NTN broadcast interviews with witnesses who said the man told them that he believed God would not allow the lions to hurt him.

Polishchuk said the man, who was not identified, was acting aggressively and one of the lions seized him by the throat. The man died at the scene.

Zoo officials could not immediately be reached for comment.