Ukraine crisis: Yanukovych 'concessions' fail to end unrest

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has offered what appear to be concessions to the opposition as anti-government protests spread.

Mr Yanukovych pledged to amend recently approved tough anti-protest laws, reshuffle the government and grant an amnesty to some detained activists.

But opposition leader Vitaly Klitschko said the protesters now wanted the president to resign.

In Kiev, protesters began throwing Molotov cocktails and stones at police.

Analysis

The Lviv regional state administration office resembles something from protest-hit Kiev. All around the building there are barricades of snow bags, tyres and wooden sticks.

On Thursday, hundreds of anti-government protesters seized control here.

Inside, I met 'commandant' Andriy, the man in charge here now and the head of the local trade union. Andriy told me that the protesters were motivated by anger at what was happening in Kiev.

They blame the authorities for the violence and for death of anti-government activist Yuri Verbytsky, who was from Lviv. He was found dead in a forest outside Kiev. 'People,' Andriy said, 'have the right to rise up.'

It's a similar picture in other parts of western Ukraine, where protesters have been picketing local government offices and, in some cases, taking control.

It's in this region that opposition to President Yanukovych has traditionally been strongest - and pro-Europe sentiment most keenly felt.

Late on Friday, they also burned tyres on the barricades on Hrushevskyy Street - the scene of recent deadly clashes near the main protest camp on the capital's Independence Square.

Earlier, the protesters seized a number of government offices across Ukraine.

The crisis escalated this week when the first deaths in the unrest happened.

Two protesters were shot dead during clashes on Hrushevskyy Street. The opposition says they were killed by riot police or snipers - the government denies the claim.

And an activist was found dead in woods near Kiev after apparently being abducted, tortured and left to die in the snow.

The demonstrations were initially triggered by Mr Yanukovych's government last-minute decision to ditch a proposed association and free trade deal with the EU in November - under heavy pressure from neighbouring Russia.

But the protests later widened their demand to include the fight against what activists say are widespread government corruption and abuse of power.

The authorities deny the allegations.

'All legal means'

At a meeting with religious leaders in Kiev, Mr Yanukovych pledged to change the anti-protests laws rushed through parliament last week and reshuffle the government at an urgent session of parliament due to begin on Tuesday.

And he said amnesty would be granted to those detained activists who had not committed 'grave crimes'.

But Mr Yanukovych vowed to use 'all legal means' if a solution to the crisis is not found.

He also said that those officials linked to the use of force against the protesters would be sacked.

Speaking shortly afterwards, Mr Klitschko, a former heavyweight world champion, said the offer had come too late.

'Today, people are demanding the resignation of the president,' he was quoted as saying by the Interfax-Ukraine news agency.

Talks between the opposition and the president have stalled. On Thursday night, protesters in Kiev's Independence Square - widely known as Maidan - voted to stop any further talks, and the decision was taken to expand the main protest camp.

State of emergency call

On Friday, the anti-government demonstrators expanded their protests.

In the western city of Ivano-Frankivsk, some 1,500 protesters occupied the regional administration and barricaded themselves in the building. They are now demanding that the local governor should resign immediately.

In Chernivsti, also in the west, crowds stormed the governor's office as police tried to protect the building. People shouted 'Shame on you!' and 'Resign!'

In Lutsk, north-west, a big demonstration was being held outside the local administration.

Regional offices are being blockaded in the western city of Uzhgorod and unrest was reported in the eastern city of Sumy.

Meanwhile, in Lviv, protesters have now built barricades around the governor's office that they seized on Thursday. There were also reports that some members of the special police, Berkut, were resigning.

Separately, the parliament of the Crimean Autonomous Republic - seen as a staunch supporter of Mr Yanukovych - urged the president to declare a state of emergency.

In Kiev, a government building was also occupied by the protesters.

Appeal for restraint

Justice Minister Olena Lukash said on Thursday that further negotiations would take place, without saying when.

Interior Minister Vitali Zakharchenko issued a statement guaranteeing that police would not take action against the protest camp on Independence Square.

He urged police officers to 'exercise restraint and not to react to petty provocations'.

Earlier, his ministry apologised after video footage emerged showing police humiliating a protester, who was made to walk around naked in the snow.

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