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Ukraine protesters end occupations | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Protesters have ended their occupation of Kiev's city hall and other buildings in the Ukrainian capital. | |
Protesters unhappy with President Yanukoych's ditching of an agreement with the EU have held the building for more than two months. | |
Officials promised to drop charges against demonstrators if they left all government buildings by Monday. | |
Protest leaders say they have now fulfilled the government's conditions for an amnesty. | |
The BBC's David Stern in Kiev says protesters have also partially dismantled barricades on a street in central Kiev. | |
The protests started in November when President Viktor Yanukovych abandoned plans to sign a far-reaching association agreement with the EU. | |
Instead, he advocated closer trade relations with Russia, which dominated Ukraine for centuries until the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. | Instead, he advocated closer trade relations with Russia, which dominated Ukraine for centuries until the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. |
Prisoners released | Prisoners released |
People began walking out of the building on Sunday morning. | People began walking out of the building on Sunday morning. |
The Swiss ambassador in Kiev entered the building soon afterwards in order to help transfer the building to the control of the authorities. | The Swiss ambassador in Kiev entered the building soon afterwards in order to help transfer the building to the control of the authorities. |
Switzerland currently holds the rotating presidency of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe. | Switzerland currently holds the rotating presidency of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe. |
On Friday authorities released the last of 243 prisoners who were arrested during the unrest. | On Friday authorities released the last of 243 prisoners who were arrested during the unrest. |
Mr Yanukovich passed an amnesty law earlier this month and agreed to negotiate with the opposition after at least four people were killed in protests. | Mr Yanukovich passed an amnesty law earlier this month and agreed to negotiate with the opposition after at least four people were killed in protests. |
This weekend, some opposition members continued to call for his departure, and another demonstration is due to place in Kiev's central Independence Square. | This weekend, some opposition members continued to call for his departure, and another demonstration is due to place in Kiev's central Independence Square. |
"The only subject of negotiation with Yanukovych is the conditions of his departure," jailed opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko said on Saturday. | "The only subject of negotiation with Yanukovych is the conditions of his departure," jailed opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko said on Saturday. |
She went to accuse the Ukrainian president of being under the control of Russia's Vladimir Putin, his major international backer. | She went to accuse the Ukrainian president of being under the control of Russia's Vladimir Putin, his major international backer. |