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| Ukraine protests persist despite resignation of prime minister Mykola Azarov | Ukraine protests persist despite resignation of prime minister Mykola Azarov |
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| Widespread anti-government protests in Ukraine showed no sign of letting up yesterday despite the resignation of the country’s Prime Minister and his cabinet. | Widespread anti-government protests in Ukraine showed no sign of letting up yesterday despite the resignation of the country’s Prime Minister and his cabinet. |
| Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has submitted to one of the opposition’s main demands by accepting the resignation of Mykola Azarov in the government’s latest bid to defuse the political crisis. | Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has submitted to one of the opposition’s main demands by accepting the resignation of Mykola Azarov in the government’s latest bid to defuse the political crisis. |
| The move came shortly after parliament voted overwhelmingly in favour of repealing tough anti-protest laws passed on 16 January, which had galvanised previously peaceful demonstrations and prompted violent clashes with police in the capital which have since spread across the country. | The move came shortly after parliament voted overwhelmingly in favour of repealing tough anti-protest laws passed on 16 January, which had galvanised previously peaceful demonstrations and prompted violent clashes with police in the capital which have since spread across the country. |
| Mr Azarov said he offered his resignation as Prime Minister yesterday in order to encourage what he called "social-political compromise". As head of the cabinet, the opposition has held Mr Azarov responsible for the use of force by police during the protests, which have left several people dead and hundreds injured. He has repeatedly called the demonstrators “terrorists”. | Mr Azarov said he offered his resignation as Prime Minister yesterday in order to encourage what he called "social-political compromise". As head of the cabinet, the opposition has held Mr Azarov responsible for the use of force by police during the protests, which have left several people dead and hundreds injured. He has repeatedly called the demonstrators “terrorists”. |
| Though the dual moves were welcomed by the opposition yesterday, protesters showed no sign of giving up the municipal buildings they have seized, or dismantling the sprawling protest camp in Kiev’s Independence Square – also known as the Maidan – which has paralysed the city centre. | Though the dual moves were welcomed by the opposition yesterday, protesters showed no sign of giving up the municipal buildings they have seized, or dismantling the sprawling protest camp in Kiev’s Independence Square – also known as the Maidan – which has paralysed the city centre. |
| Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, above, accepted Mykola Azarov's resignation (Getty) "We have repealed all the laws against which the whole country rose up," Arseniy Yatsenyuk, leader of Ukraine’s largest opposition bloc, said yesterday. Mr Yanukovych offered the post of Prime Minister to Mr Yatsenyuk on Saturday as part of several surprise proposals for concessions. | |
| Mr Yatsenyuk dismissed the offer in a tweet later that day, saying: "No deal... we're finishing what we started. The people decide our leaders, not you." | Mr Yatsenyuk dismissed the offer in a tweet later that day, saying: "No deal... we're finishing what we started. The people decide our leaders, not you." |
| The opposition, which also counts world champion boxer-turned-politician Vitaly Klitschko as one of its leaders, said on Saturday that it would continue to push for its key demand – snap elections. | The opposition, which also counts world champion boxer-turned-politician Vitaly Klitschko as one of its leaders, said on Saturday that it would continue to push for its key demand – snap elections. |
| With the government now increasingly on the back foot, and protesters determined to remain on the streets, the opposition stands far more chance of achieving its aim. | With the government now increasingly on the back foot, and protesters determined to remain on the streets, the opposition stands far more chance of achieving its aim. |
| “The authorities are afraid and making concessions,” Oleg Rudakov, a 23-year-old demonstrator, told the Associated Press yesterday. “We should use this moment and continue our fight to achieve a change of power in Ukraine.” | “The authorities are afraid and making concessions,” Oleg Rudakov, a 23-year-old demonstrator, told the Associated Press yesterday. “We should use this moment and continue our fight to achieve a change of power in Ukraine.” |
| Ukrainian opposition leader Vitali Klitschko, center, talks to lawmakers in the parliament session hall, in Kiev (AP) The mass protests began in November after the government spurned a long-awaited trade and political deal with the EU in favour of closer ties with Russia, but turned violent after parliament rushed through the anti-protest laws, which restricted basic freedoms of speech, movement and assembly in a bit to curb the demonstrations. At least three demonstrators were killed in clashes with police. | |
| In his resignation statement yesterday, Mr Azarov said the conflict is “creating a threat to the whole of Ukrainian society and to each citizen”. | In his resignation statement yesterday, Mr Azarov said the conflict is “creating a threat to the whole of Ukrainian society and to each citizen”. |