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Ukrainian president and opposition sign early-poll deal | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and opposition protesters have agreed to an early presidential poll before the end of the year. | Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and opposition protesters have agreed to an early presidential poll before the end of the year. |
The election is part of a deal to end the country's political crisis. | The election is part of a deal to end the country's political crisis. |
The deal has not been published, but Mr Yanukovych referred to a national unity government and constitutional changes reducing the president's power. | |
The compromise came after hours of talks between mediated by three European foreign ministers. | The compromise came after hours of talks between mediated by three European foreign ministers. |
The German and Polish ministers met protesters in Kiev's Independence Square before announcing their leaders backed the deal. | The German and Polish ministers met protesters in Kiev's Independence Square before announcing their leaders backed the deal. |
The agreement was later signed by opposition leaders and Mr Yanukovych at the presidential administration headquarters in Kiev. | |
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski tweeted that the deal was a "good compromise for Ukraine" which would open the way "to reform and to Europe". | |
Ukrainian broadcaster ICTV said it had seen a copy of the agreement, which included three main proposals: | Ukrainian broadcaster ICTV said it had seen a copy of the agreement, which included three main proposals: |
Despite the agreement, isolated outbursts of violence were reported in central Kiev on Friday morning. | Despite the agreement, isolated outbursts of violence were reported in central Kiev on Friday morning. |
The police said they had traded gunfire with protesters, and Ukrainian media said riot police were patrolling inside parliament during a session. | The police said they had traded gunfire with protesters, and Ukrainian media said riot police were patrolling inside parliament during a session. |
MPs once again began the session with scuffles, as the speaker tried to adjourn a debate about constitutional reform. | MPs once again began the session with scuffles, as the speaker tried to adjourn a debate about constitutional reform. |
The protests first erupted in late November when President Yanukovych rejected a landmark association and trade deal with the EU in favour of closer ties with Russia. | The protests first erupted in late November when President Yanukovych rejected a landmark association and trade deal with the EU in favour of closer ties with Russia. |
Mr Yanukovych announced the deal early on Friday, but initially gave no details. | Mr Yanukovych announced the deal early on Friday, but initially gave no details. |
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said there had been an agreement that nobody would publicise the deal until it had been confirmed. | French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said there had been an agreement that nobody would publicise the deal until it had been confirmed. |
However, the president later gave more details and said in a statement that he would initiate the process of constitutional reform and call an early election. | However, the president later gave more details and said in a statement that he would initiate the process of constitutional reform and call an early election. |
The deal came after the bloodiest day since the unrest began. | The deal came after the bloodiest day since the unrest began. |
Police opened fire early on Thursday after protesters tried to push them away from the makeshift camps they have been occupying in central Kiev. | Police opened fire early on Thursday after protesters tried to push them away from the makeshift camps they have been occupying in central Kiev. |
The health ministry said 77 people had been killed since Tuesday, and another 577 were injured. | The health ministry said 77 people had been killed since Tuesday, and another 577 were injured. |
But activists suggested the death toll was likely to be much higher. | But activists suggested the death toll was likely to be much higher. |
On Friday the US state department issued a travel warning advising its citizens to "defer non-essential travel" to Ukraine, saying that it had authorised "the departure of all family members of U.S. government personnel from Ukraine". |