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| Ukraine: President Viktor Yanukovich offers top government posts to opposition leaders including Arseniy Yatsenyuk and Vitali Klitschko | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich has offered top government posts to opposition leaders in a bid to solve the country’s political crisis. | |
| Arseniy Yatsenyuk, leader of Ukraine’s largest opposition bloc, was offered the role of Prime Minister, replacing Mykola Azarov. The world champion boxer turned politician, Vitali Klitschko, who leads Udar, was offered the post of Deputy Prime Minister, and would also be put in charge of humanitarian affairs. | |
| The president proposed making changes to the constitution, which at present gives the state sweeping powers, and also offered an amnesty to protesters who have been detained during the mass demonstrations against Mr Yanukovich’s government, in which at least three people died and hundreds were injured. | |
| Though the offers may be seen as concessions, they do not meet the demands from the opposition during the past week, which asked for Mr Yaunkovich to resign and for early elections to be called. | |
| The mass protests descended into violence again today, with demonstrators at a series of barricades near Kiev Dynamo stadium throwing rocks at police. | The mass protests descended into violence again today, with demonstrators at a series of barricades near Kiev Dynamo stadium throwing rocks at police. |
| Two police officers were released after being kidnapped by opposition protesters, according to the Interior Minister. Vitaly Zakharchenko said the officers had been tortured during their ordeal and were now in hospital. He thanked peaceful protesters and the “foreign countries’ ambassadors” for brokering their release, warning opposition leaders that the standoff in Ukraine is “not a war game”. | Two police officers were released after being kidnapped by opposition protesters, according to the Interior Minister. Vitaly Zakharchenko said the officers had been tortured during their ordeal and were now in hospital. He thanked peaceful protesters and the “foreign countries’ ambassadors” for brokering their release, warning opposition leaders that the standoff in Ukraine is “not a war game”. |
| With activists seizing another government building in the Kiev on Saturday morning – this time the country’s Energy Ministry – as well as protests erupting in at least six other across the country, the government is facing what appears to be a growing backlash not just in the capital, but in the provinces too. | With activists seizing another government building in the Kiev on Saturday morning – this time the country’s Energy Ministry – as well as protests erupting in at least six other across the country, the government is facing what appears to be a growing backlash not just in the capital, but in the provinces too. |
| “People should not think that the government lacks available resources to put an end to this,” Prime Minister Mykola Azarov, who is regarded as a hardliner, and has dismissed protesters as “terrorists” said. “It is our constitutional right and obligation to restore order in the country.” | “People should not think that the government lacks available resources to put an end to this,” Prime Minister Mykola Azarov, who is regarded as a hardliner, and has dismissed protesters as “terrorists” said. “It is our constitutional right and obligation to restore order in the country.” |
| Mr Yanukovich offered some concessions on Friday, including amending anti-protest laws, involving opposition leaders in an ‘anti-crisis’ committee and reshuffling his cabinet. Vitali Klitschko, the world champion boxer turned politician, said the protests would not end unless Mr Yanukovich resigns. Mr Klitschko is leader of Udar (Ukrainian Democratic Alliance for Reform), one of Ukraine’s three main opposition groups, which are demanding early elections. | Mr Yanukovich offered some concessions on Friday, including amending anti-protest laws, involving opposition leaders in an ‘anti-crisis’ committee and reshuffling his cabinet. Vitali Klitschko, the world champion boxer turned politician, said the protests would not end unless Mr Yanukovich resigns. Mr Klitschko is leader of Udar (Ukrainian Democratic Alliance for Reform), one of Ukraine’s three main opposition groups, which are demanding early elections. |