This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25923199
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Ukraine crisis: PM Azarov offers to quit over protests | Ukraine crisis: PM Azarov offers to quit over protests |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Ukraine's Prime Minister Mykola Azarov has offered his resignation to try to end the protests gripping cities across the country. | Ukraine's Prime Minister Mykola Azarov has offered his resignation to try to end the protests gripping cities across the country. |
| In a statement, he said the move was designed to create "social and political compromise". | In a statement, he said the move was designed to create "social and political compromise". |
| Parliament is meanwhile holding an emergency debate on the crisis. | Parliament is meanwhile holding an emergency debate on the crisis. |
| It plans to vote on repealing controversial anti-protest legislation, which President Viktor Yanukovych has already agreed to scrap. | It plans to vote on repealing controversial anti-protest legislation, which President Viktor Yanukovych has already agreed to scrap. |
| In his resignation statement, PM Azarov said: "To create additional opportunities for social and political compromise and for a peaceful solution to the conflict, I made a personal decision to ask the president of Ukraine to accept my resignation as prime minister of Ukraine". | In his resignation statement, PM Azarov said: "To create additional opportunities for social and political compromise and for a peaceful solution to the conflict, I made a personal decision to ask the president of Ukraine to accept my resignation as prime minister of Ukraine". |
| The government had "done everything to ensure the peaceful resolution of the conflict" and would do "everything possible to prevent bloodshed, an escalation of violence, and violation of citizen's rights", he said. | The government had "done everything to ensure the peaceful resolution of the conflict" and would do "everything possible to prevent bloodshed, an escalation of violence, and violation of citizen's rights", he said. |
| If the president signs the decree for the PM's resignation, then the whole cabinet resigns, says the BBC's David Stern in Kiev. But they can remain in their posts for 60 days until a new government is formed. | If the president signs the decree for the PM's resignation, then the whole cabinet resigns, says the BBC's David Stern in Kiev. But they can remain in their posts for 60 days until a new government is formed. |
| Free vote | |
| Opposition to the protest law has helped fuel deadly clashes between anti-government protesters and police. | |
| The legislation bans unauthorised tents in public areas and also punishes the slandering of government officials. | |
| Anyone blockading public buildings could face jail, and the wearing of masks or helmets at demonstrations is banned. | |
| Confirmation that the president had agreed to get rid of the protest law came in a statement on the presidential website from Justice Minister Olena Lukash. | Confirmation that the president had agreed to get rid of the protest law came in a statement on the presidential website from Justice Minister Olena Lukash. |
| "A political decision has been made to abolish the laws adopted on January 16 that caused multiple discussions," she said. | "A political decision has been made to abolish the laws adopted on January 16 that caused multiple discussions," she said. |
| However, it is unclear whether MPs at Tuesday's session will back the president's decision. MPs from his governing Party of the Regions are being allowed a "free vote" - to vote as they see fit. | |
| The assembly is due to tackle other opposition demands, such as an amnesty for arrested activists. | The assembly is due to tackle other opposition demands, such as an amnesty for arrested activists. |
| Mr Yanukovych offered an amnesty only if protesters cleared barricades and stopped attacking government buildings. | Mr Yanukovych offered an amnesty only if protesters cleared barricades and stopped attacking government buildings. |
| The president made the concessions during talks with the three main opposition leaders on Monday - Fatherland leader Arseniy Yatsenyuk, Udar (Punch) chief Vitali Klitschko, and nationalist leader Oleg Tyahnybok. | The president made the concessions during talks with the three main opposition leaders on Monday - Fatherland leader Arseniy Yatsenyuk, Udar (Punch) chief Vitali Klitschko, and nationalist leader Oleg Tyahnybok. |
| Meanwhile, top EU diplomat Catherine Ashton has brought forward a planned visit to Ukraine by 48 hours and will now arrive on Tuesday for meetings with Mr Yanukovych and opposition leaders. | Meanwhile, top EU diplomat Catherine Ashton has brought forward a planned visit to Ukraine by 48 hours and will now arrive on Tuesday for meetings with Mr Yanukovych and opposition leaders. |
| She said she was "alarmed" by reports on Monday that the government was preparing to introduce a state of emergency. Officials have denied any such plan. | She said she was "alarmed" by reports on Monday that the government was preparing to introduce a state of emergency. Officials have denied any such plan. |
| Putin | Putin |
| So far there has been no sign of demonstrators leaving the streets and the opposition has called for renewed protests to coincide with the meeting of parliament. | So far there has been no sign of demonstrators leaving the streets and the opposition has called for renewed protests to coincide with the meeting of parliament. |
| Activists continue to occupy Kiev's central square and government buildings in a number of Ukrainian cities, saying they will not leave until Mr Yanukovych resigns. | Activists continue to occupy Kiev's central square and government buildings in a number of Ukrainian cities, saying they will not leave until Mr Yanukovych resigns. |
| Unrest has spread across Ukraine, even to Mr Yanukovych's Russian-speaking strongholds in the east. | Unrest has spread across Ukraine, even to Mr Yanukovych's Russian-speaking strongholds in the east. |
| Four activists have died in incidents connected with the protests in recent days. | Four activists have died in incidents connected with the protests in recent days. |
| The crisis was sparked when Mr Yanukovych pulled out of a planned trade deal with the EU last November in favour of a $15bn (£9bn) bailout from Russia. | The crisis was sparked when Mr Yanukovych pulled out of a planned trade deal with the EU last November in favour of a $15bn (£9bn) bailout from Russia. |
| Ukraine is expected to feature at talks in Brussels on Tuesday between Russian President Vladimir Putin and the European Union. | Ukraine is expected to feature at talks in Brussels on Tuesday between Russian President Vladimir Putin and the European Union. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
| Read the terms and conditions | Read the terms and conditions |