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Ukraine crisis: President's Kiev buildings unguarded | |
(35 minutes later) | |
The Kiev offices of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych are unguarded, with opposition protesters apparently in full control of the government district, say BBC correspondents. | The Kiev offices of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych are unguarded, with opposition protesters apparently in full control of the government district, say BBC correspondents. |
The BBC's Kevin Bishop says he was able to walk straight in to the courtyard of the unguarded presidential building. | |
The capital is quiet, a day after deal was signed to end a political crisis in which dozens have died. | |
As parliament met on Saturday, the speaker, Volodymyr Rybak stood down. | |
He cited ill health as the reason for his resignation. | |
Despite the deal signed on Friday, thousands of people have remained on the streets of Kiev. | |
Our correspondent says there is no sign of security forces inside the previously heavily guarded presidential complex, though some government employees arrived for work. | |
Protesters are standing in the grounds of the building in disbelief, he adds. | |
There are unconfirmed reports that President Yanukovych has left Kiev, with suggestions that he has travelled to Kharkiv in the east, close to the Russian border. | |
One group of far-right protesters had threatened to take action if he did not resign by Saturday morning. | One group of far-right protesters had threatened to take action if he did not resign by Saturday morning. |
Meanwhile, the opposition Udar party, led by Vitaly Klitschko, is to submit a resolution to parliament demanding the president's immediate resignation. | |
Spokeswoman Oksana Zinoviyeva told Reuters the move would allow parliament to set a date for early elections. | |
On Thursday, police opened fire on protesters who have been occupying Independence Square in central Kiev. The health ministry said 77 people - both protesters and police - had been killed since Tuesday in the worst violence since protests began in November. | |
The political pact was signed on Friday by President Viktor Yanukovych and opposition leaders after mediation by EU foreign ministers. | |
It says a unity government will be formed and elections held by the end of the year. | |
But the deal has been met with scepticism by some of the thousands of protesters who remain in the square. Opposition leaders who signed it were booed and called traitors. | |
The agreement, published by the German foreign ministry, includes the following: | The agreement, published by the German foreign ministry, includes the following: |
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski tweeted that the deal was a "good compromise for Ukraine" that would open the way "to reform and to Europe". | Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski tweeted that the deal was a "good compromise for Ukraine" that would open the way "to reform and to Europe". |
The US and Russian presidents have agreed that the deal needs to be swiftly implemented, officials say. | The US and Russian presidents have agreed that the deal needs to be swiftly implemented, officials say. |
The White House praised "the courageous opposition leaders who recognised the need for compromise". | The White House praised "the courageous opposition leaders who recognised the need for compromise". |
The US remained prepared to impose sanctions on the Ukrainian government if the violence continues, it said in a statement. | The US remained prepared to impose sanctions on the Ukrainian government if the violence continues, it said in a statement. |
Russia's Vladimir Putin told Barack Obama in a telephone conversation on Friday that Russia wants to be part of the implementation process, a US State Department spokesperson said. | Russia's Vladimir Putin told Barack Obama in a telephone conversation on Friday that Russia wants to be part of the implementation process, a US State Department spokesperson said. |
Shortly after the deal was signed, Ukraine's parliament approved the restoration of the 2004 constitution, with all but one of the 387 MPs present voting in favour. | Shortly after the deal was signed, Ukraine's parliament approved the restoration of the 2004 constitution, with all but one of the 387 MPs present voting in favour. |
Parliament also approved an amnesty for protesters accused of involvement in violence. | Parliament also approved an amnesty for protesters accused of involvement in violence. |
MPs voted for a change in the law which could lead to the release of Yulia Tymoshenko, an arch-rival of Mr Yanukovych. | MPs voted for a change in the law which could lead to the release of Yulia Tymoshenko, an arch-rival of Mr Yanukovych. |
She was sentenced to seven years in prison in 2011 for abuse of power. Her supporters say this was simply Mr Yanukovych taking out his most prominent opponent. | She was sentenced to seven years in prison in 2011 for abuse of power. Her supporters say this was simply Mr Yanukovych taking out his most prominent opponent. |
Dozens of MPs from Mr Yanukovych's own Party of Regions voted for the motions, in what correspondents say will be a humiliation for the president. | Dozens of MPs from Mr Yanukovych's own Party of Regions voted for the motions, in what correspondents say will be a humiliation for the president. |
The protests first erupted in late November when Mr 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 Mr Yanukovych rejected a landmark association and trade deal with the EU in favour of closer ties with Russia. |
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. |
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