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Ukraine crisis: Yanukovych offers jobs to opposition Ukraine crisis: Yanukovych offers jobs to opposition
(about 2 hours later)
Ukraine's President Viktor Yanukovych has offered the position of prime minister to an opposition leader, Arseniy Yatsenyuk. Ukraine's President Viktor Yanukovych has offered the post of prime minister to opposition leader Arseniy Yatsenyuk.
The offer came after talks on Saturday with opposition leaders in a new effort to end the worsening unrest that has spread across the country. He also offered former boxer Vitali Klitschko the position of deputy PM.
Earlier, protesters in Kiev tried to occupy the energy ministry. In response, the opposition leaders did not explicitly say whether they accepted the offer, but repeated their demands for new presidential elections.
The offer came after talks on Saturday with the opposition in a new effort to end the deadly unrest that has spread across the country.
The protests began in November after Ukraine decided not to sign an accord on more co-operation with the EU.The protests began in November after Ukraine decided not to sign an accord on more co-operation with the EU.
Instead, the government opted to deepen ties with neighbouring Russia.Instead, the government opted to deepen ties with neighbouring Russia.
Addressing a crowd of tens of thousands in Kiev's Independence Square on Saturday evening, along with other opposition leaders, Mr Yatsenyuk gave no clear answer to the president's offer, but did say the opposition was prepared to take on responsibility.
The politician is the parliamentary leader of the country's second biggest party, Fatherland, and an ally of the jailed ex-Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.
Mr Klitschko, the leader of the Udar (Punch) movement, told the crowd that the opposition would not yield in its demands for elections to be held this year. A vote is not due until 2015.
Offer of debatesOffer of debates
The crisis escalated this week when two activists were killed, and another was found dead with torture marks in a forest near the capital. The crisis in Ukraine escalated this week when two activists were killed, and another was found dead with torture marks in a forest near the capital.
A fourth, 45-year-old protester is said to have died in a Kiev hospital on Saturday, after sustaining injuries in earlier violence. A fourth, 45-year-old protester is said to have died in a Kiev hospital on Saturday from injuries sustained in earlier violence.
Mr Yatsenyuk, parliamentary leader of the country's second biggest party, Fatherland, has not commented on the president's offer. In a statement published on the government's website, Justice Minister Olena Lukash said the president had offered public debates with Mr Klitschko "in order to ensure a wide public dialogue", and that Mr Klitschko had agreed.
He is an ally of the jailed ex-Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko. In addition, Mr Yanukovych has said he is ready to amend the constitution to reduce the president's powers, Ukrainian media report.
Mr Yanukovych has also offered the post of deputy prime minister for humanitarian issues to the former boxer, Vitali Klitschko, who is leader of the Udar (Punch) movement.
In addition, Ukrainian media report that Mr Yanukovych has said he is ready to amend the constitution to reduce the president's powers.
The opposition has previously demanded that Mr Yanukovych step down.
In a statement published on the government's website, Justice Minister Olena Lukash said that the president had offered public debates with Mr Klitschko "in order to ensure a wide public dialogue", and that Mr Klitschko had agreed.
'Extremist' accusation'Extremist' accusation
Earlier, Ukraine's interior minister said talks with protesters had failed.Earlier, Ukraine's interior minister said talks with protesters had failed.
Vitaliy Zakharchenko - in charge of the police and one of the figures most despised by the protesters - blamed "radical groups" for the unrest, adding that protesters had arms.Vitaliy Zakharchenko - in charge of the police and one of the figures most despised by the protesters - blamed "radical groups" for the unrest, adding that protesters had arms.
"We will consider those who remain on the Maidan [Independence Square] and in captured buildings to be extremist groups," he said"We will consider those who remain on the Maidan [Independence Square] and in captured buildings to be extremist groups," he said
"The events of recent days in the Ukrainian capital showed that our attempts to peacefully resolve the conflict without resorting to forceful opposition remain futile," he added."The events of recent days in the Ukrainian capital showed that our attempts to peacefully resolve the conflict without resorting to forceful opposition remain futile," he added.
Although the protest movement - the "EuroMaidan" - is largely peaceful, a hardcore of radicals have been fighting pitched battles with police away from the main protest in Maidan.Although the protest movement - the "EuroMaidan" - is largely peaceful, a hardcore of radicals have been fighting pitched battles with police away from the main protest in Maidan.
Mr Zakharchenko accused the opposition of no longer able to control "radical forces" and of putting civilians in danger.Mr Zakharchenko accused the opposition of no longer able to control "radical forces" and of putting civilians in danger.
He also said that activists had shot a police officer and kidnapped three others - allegations denied as "false and dangerous" by protest leaders.He also said that activists had shot a police officer and kidnapped three others - allegations denied as "false and dangerous" by protest leaders.
Later on Saturday, Mr Zakharchenko said protesters had released two officers, who were subsequently sent to hospital. Again, protesters called his words a provocation. Later on Saturday, Mr Zakharchenko said protesters had released two officers, who were subsequently sent to hospital. Protesters called his words a provocation.
On Friday protesters seized a number of government buildings in Ukrainian cities outside Kiev, particularly in the west, which has traditionally favoured closer ties with Europe, including in the cities of Chernivtsi, Ivano-Frankivsk, Lutsk and Lviv.On Friday protesters seized a number of government buildings in Ukrainian cities outside Kiev, particularly in the west, which has traditionally favoured closer ties with Europe, including in the cities of Chernivtsi, Ivano-Frankivsk, Lutsk and Lviv.
On Saturday the protests spread to cities further east, including Vinnytsya, just west of Kiev.On Saturday the protests spread to cities further east, including Vinnytsya, just west of Kiev.
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