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| Ukraine crisis: Protesters remain in central Kiev as MPs meet | Ukraine crisis: Protesters remain in central Kiev as MPs meet |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Thousands of protesters remain in central Kiev as MPs meet to discuss setting up a new government in Ukraine. | |
| The atmosphere in Independence Square appears calm - a day after parliament voted to dismiss President Viktor Yanukovych, in what he described as a coup. His whereabouts remain unclear. | The atmosphere in Independence Square appears calm - a day after parliament voted to dismiss President Viktor Yanukovych, in what he described as a coup. His whereabouts remain unclear. |
| His main rival, former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, was also freed from jail and urged protesters to stay. | His main rival, former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, was also freed from jail and urged protesters to stay. |
| The fast-moving events came after months of anti-government protests. | The fast-moving events came after months of anti-government protests. |
| Opposition MPs told Ukrainian TV that parliament would be discussing a new cabinet and appointing a prime minister. | Opposition MPs told Ukrainian TV that parliament would be discussing a new cabinet and appointing a prime minister. |
| "We don't have much time," one of the opposition leaders, Vitaly Klitschko, said. | "We don't have much time," one of the opposition leaders, Vitaly Klitschko, said. |
| Speaking to the BBC, he also suggested a bid for the presidency in elections scheduled for 25 May. | |
| "I want to make Ukraine a modern European country," he said. "If I can do that through the president's position, I will do my best." | |
| Late on Saturday, Ms Tymoshenko, freed from detention in the eastern city of Kharkiv after a vote in parliament, urged opposition supporters in Independence Square to continue protesting. | Late on Saturday, Ms Tymoshenko, freed from detention in the eastern city of Kharkiv after a vote in parliament, urged opposition supporters in Independence Square to continue protesting. |
| "Until you finish this job... nobody has the right to leave," she said, addressing the crowds from a wheelchair as she still has a back injury. | "Until you finish this job... nobody has the right to leave," she said, addressing the crowds from a wheelchair as she still has a back injury. |
| Ms Tymoshenko broke down in tears as she told cheering supporters: "You are heroes. | Ms Tymoshenko broke down in tears as she told cheering supporters: "You are heroes. |
| "Because nobody could... do what you have done," she said. "We've eliminated this cancer, this tumour." | "Because nobody could... do what you have done," she said. "We've eliminated this cancer, this tumour." |
| However, she is not universally admired within the opposition. Before she went into prison in 2011, her popularity ratings were dropping and many Ukrainians blame her in part for the chaos of the post-Orange Revolution years, or see her as a member of Ukraine's corrupt elite. | However, she is not universally admired within the opposition. Before she went into prison in 2011, her popularity ratings were dropping and many Ukrainians blame her in part for the chaos of the post-Orange Revolution years, or see her as a member of Ukraine's corrupt elite. |
| Former Deputy Prime Minister, Oleg Rybachuk, told the BBC she should not become the next president. | Former Deputy Prime Minister, Oleg Rybachuk, told the BBC she should not become the next president. |
| "Actually lots of people and including myself are happy that's she's freed, but I guess the country really deserves a new generation of leadership," he said. | "Actually lots of people and including myself are happy that's she's freed, but I guess the country really deserves a new generation of leadership," he said. |
| She was sentenced to seven years in jail after a controversial verdict on her actions as prime minister and her release has been a key demand of the protest movement. | She was sentenced to seven years in jail after a controversial verdict on her actions as prime minister and her release has been a key demand of the protest movement. |
| The glamorous, fiery orator who helped lead the Orange Revolution - Ukraine's revolt against a controversial election in 2004 - was convicted of criminally exceeding her powers when she agreed a gas deal with Russia which was seen to have disadvantaged Ukraine. | The glamorous, fiery orator who helped lead the Orange Revolution - Ukraine's revolt against a controversial election in 2004 - was convicted of criminally exceeding her powers when she agreed a gas deal with Russia which was seen to have disadvantaged Ukraine. |
| Ms Tymoshenko has always insisted the charges were untrue, inspired by Mr Yanukovych, the man she helped oust in 2004 who returned to defeat her in the 2010 presidential election. | |
| Her release was one of the conditions of the EU-Ukraine trade pact that President Yanukovych rejected last year - triggering the protests that led to the current crisis. | Her release was one of the conditions of the EU-Ukraine trade pact that President Yanukovych rejected last year - triggering the protests that led to the current crisis. |
| The health ministry says 88 people, mostly protesters, are now known to have been killed since 18 February. | The health ministry says 88 people, mostly protesters, are now known to have been killed since 18 February. |
| 'Coup' | 'Coup' |
| As well as setting 25 May as the date for a presidential election, Ukraine's parliament voted on Saturday to remove President Yanukovych. | |
| Police stopped guarding presidential buildings, allowing protesters into the presidential country residence outside Kiev, and parliament made new high-level appointments. | Police stopped guarding presidential buildings, allowing protesters into the presidential country residence outside Kiev, and parliament made new high-level appointments. |
| Mr Yanukovych said events in Kiev were a "coup" and vowed not to stand down. | Mr Yanukovych said events in Kiev were a "coup" and vowed not to stand down. |
| He compared the actions of the opposition to the rise to power of the Nazis in 1930s Germany. | He compared the actions of the opposition to the rise to power of the Nazis in 1930s Germany. |
| The opposition is now in effective control of the capital Kiev, with Mr Yanukovych's last known whereabouts in Kharkiv after travelling there late on Friday night. | The opposition is now in effective control of the capital Kiev, with Mr Yanukovych's last known whereabouts in Kharkiv after travelling there late on Friday night. |
| Media reports have quoted Ukrainian officials as saying he was stopped by border police while attempting to fly to Russia aboard a private plane. | Media reports have quoted Ukrainian officials as saying he was stopped by border police while attempting to fly to Russia aboard a private plane. |
| A pact signed on Friday by Mr Yanukovych and opposition leaders now seems to have been overtaken by events. | A pact signed on Friday by Mr Yanukovych and opposition leaders now seems to have been overtaken by events. |
| It called for the restoration of the 2004 constitution and the formation of a national unity government. | It called for the restoration of the 2004 constitution and the formation of a national unity government. |
| The agreement failed to end the protests huge crowds remaining in Independence Square on Saturday calling for Mr Yanukovych's resignation. | The agreement failed to end the protests huge crowds remaining in Independence Square on Saturday calling for Mr Yanukovych's resignation. |
| Financial support | Financial support |
| US Treasury Secretary Jack Lew discussed Ukraine with Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov on the sidelines of the G20 meeting in Sydney, a US official said. | US Treasury Secretary Jack Lew discussed Ukraine with Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov on the sidelines of the G20 meeting in Sydney, a US official said. |
| Mr Lew stressed the US was ready to work "with other countries including Russia" to help Ukraine "as it implements reforms to restore economic stability and seeks to return to a path of democracy and growth". | Mr Lew stressed the US was ready to work "with other countries including Russia" to help Ukraine "as it implements reforms to restore economic stability and seeks to return to a path of democracy and growth". |
| However, Mr Siluanov has left open the question of whether Russia will pay the next - $2bn - instalment of financial help for Ukraine. | However, Mr Siluanov has left open the question of whether Russia will pay the next - $2bn - instalment of financial help for Ukraine. |
| "We are planning to wait until a new government is formed and until we understand the policy of this government and then we shall make a decision," Siluanov was quoted by website Gazeta.ru as saying. | "We are planning to wait until a new government is formed and until we understand the policy of this government and then we shall make a decision," Siluanov was quoted by website Gazeta.ru as saying. |
| In a telephone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, US Secretary of State John Kerry noted the "peaceful atmosphere" prevailing in Kiev after the departure of President Yanukovych, officials said. | In a telephone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, US Secretary of State John Kerry noted the "peaceful atmosphere" prevailing in Kiev after the departure of President Yanukovych, officials said. |
| Russia and the US have been on opposite sides during the Ukraine crisis, which the US, along with the EU, backing the opposition. | Russia and the US have been on opposite sides during the Ukraine crisis, which the US, along with the EU, backing the opposition. |
| The European Union, too, has said it stands ready to assist a new government. | The European Union, too, has said it stands ready to assist a new government. |
| Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Olli Rehn said in Sydney: "It is important that we provide a clear European perspective for the Ukrainian people". | Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Olli Rehn said in Sydney: "It is important that we provide a clear European perspective for the Ukrainian people". |
| UK Foreign Secretary William Hague told the BBC he would be speaking to Mr Lavrov on Monday. | |
| "It's very important for us to persuade Russia that this need not be a zero-sum game," he said. | |
| 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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