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Ukraine president says deal has been reached to end days of bloodshed German foreign minister denies deal has been made to end Ukraine crisis
(about 3 hours later)
Ukraine's embattled president, Viktor Yanukovych, has announced he will make concessions for the sake of peace following a three-day bloodbath in central Kiev that has left up to 100 dead. Several hours after Ukraine's embattled president announced early elections and promised to form a coalition government, Germany's foreign minister said a deal had not yet been reached to resolve the bloody crisis in Kiev that has left up to 100 people dead over three days of violent protest.
Yanukovych's press service announced that negotiations on the settlement of the political crisis in Ukraine between the president, leaders of the opposition, EU and Russian representatives "have finished". Emerging from Victor Yanukovych's office after hours of tense negotiations between government and opposition representatives, Frank-Walter Steinmeier told the Guardian a deal had not yet been reached.
"The parties have agreed to initial the Agreement on the Settlement of Crisis," the statement said. "No result," he said, adding that he was not going home yet. Steinmeier then left for a new round of talks with opposition representatives.
While details of the proposed deal remained sketchy – and opposition and international trust in Yanukovych is at an all-time low – the presidential administration said a "political agreement" had been reached during negotiations that ran throughout the night with the mediation of the foreign ministers of Germany, Poland, and France. As the government's midday deadline for an announcement of a deal passed, details of the proposed agreement remained slight. Despite opposition and international trust in Yanukovych standing at an all-time low , the presidential administration had claimed a "political agreement" had been reached during negotiations that ran throughout the night with the mediation of the foreign ministers of Germany, Poland, and France.
The European mediators were more cautious. The Germans said the talks had been "very difficult", run all night and had stopped for a break after 7am. Radek Sikorski, the Polish foreign minister, also voiced scepticism that the deal had been reached that could resolve the crisis. The European mediators were more cautious. The Germans had said the talks had been "very difficult", run all night and had stopped for a break after 7am. Radek Sikorski, the Polish foreign minister, also voiced scepticism that a deal had been reached that could resolve the crisis.
The purported agreement is believed to include a pledge by Yanukovych to hold early presidential elections by the end of the year – probably in December – as well as moves to curb the president's powers by reverting to the constitution of 2004, which Yanukovych changed when he took over in 2010. He said Ukraine was at a "delicate moment" and "all sides need to remember that compromise means getting less than 100%."
An official announcement is expected at midday local time (10am GMT). It is not clear if protesters will accept the deal as it stands. Anton Solovyov, 28, an IT worker in the central square said: "This is just another piece of paper. We will not leave the barricades until Yanukovich steps down. That's all people want."
Following the worst bloodshed in the country's 23 years of independence, Kiev awoke to a bright, sunny and peaceful day, with the city centre firmly in the hands of the anti-Yanukovych protest movement and the riot police, ubiquitous until Thursday morning, barely to be seen.Following the worst bloodshed in the country's 23 years of independence, Kiev awoke to a bright, sunny and peaceful day, with the city centre firmly in the hands of the anti-Yanukovych protest movement and the riot police, ubiquitous until Thursday morning, barely to be seen.
As Yanukovych claimed a settlement had been reached, shots rang out through Independence Square as police clashed with protestors.As Yanukovych claimed a settlement had been reached, shots rang out through Independence Square as police clashed with protestors.
"Participants in the mass disorder opened fire on police officers and tried to burst through in the direction of the parliament building," a police statement said."Participants in the mass disorder opened fire on police officers and tried to burst through in the direction of the parliament building," a police statement said.
Opposition leader Arseny Yatsenyuk, speaking in the parliament building a mile away, claimed armed police had entered the premises but the deputy speaker claimed they had been forced out.Opposition leader Arseny Yatsenyuk, speaking in the parliament building a mile away, claimed armed police had entered the premises but the deputy speaker claimed they had been forced out.
Thousands remained on Independence Square or Maidan, the epicentre of the resistance after police fled the square in pitched battles on Thursday. The protesters have vastly expanded the area of the city centre under their control and have quickly built huge barricades and reinforced positions to keep the security forces at bay.Thousands remained on Independence Square or Maidan, the epicentre of the resistance after police fled the square in pitched battles on Thursday. The protesters have vastly expanded the area of the city centre under their control and have quickly built huge barricades and reinforced positions to keep the security forces at bay.
Protesters remained on the square throughout the night, with no let-up at all in the speech-making, singing and praying led by the stage at the centre of the square.Protesters remained on the square throughout the night, with no let-up at all in the speech-making, singing and praying led by the stage at the centre of the square.
Parliament assembled and is likely to see rowdy scenes as the city and the country digest the shock of this week's bloodshed, which has hardened positions in the protest movement and reinforced the resolve to topple him.Parliament assembled and is likely to see rowdy scenes as the city and the country digest the shock of this week's bloodshed, which has hardened positions in the protest movement and reinforced the resolve to topple him.
At the moment it is difficult to see how Yanukovych will recover any authority or how the government will re-establish control over the centre of the capital.At the moment it is difficult to see how Yanukovych will recover any authority or how the government will re-establish control over the centre of the capital.