Friday, February 21, 2014

Ukraine president announces early elections, opposition silent

An anti-government protester as he mans a barricade in Kiev on Friday, a day after a bloody battle with police that killed more than 100 people.


DAVID MDZINARISHVILI/REUTERS


An anti-government protester as he mans a barricade in Kiev on Friday, a day after a bloody battle with police that killed more than 100 people.



KIEV, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has announced early presidential elections and promised to form a coalition government in a bid to defuse a deep crisis in which scores have been killed and hundreds injured.


There was no immediate comment from opposition leaders, who were meeting among themselves.


Anti-government protesters look out from a barricade in Kiev on Friday as Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich said a deal had been reached to resolve the policitical crisis.


BAZ RATNER/REUTERS


Anti-government protesters look out from a barricade in Kiev on Friday as Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich said a deal had been reached to resolve the policitical crisis.


In a statement on his website, Yanukovych said he would start the process for early elections but gave no date. He also promised constitutional reforms trimming presidential powers, a key demand of protesters.


The conflict is a battle over the identity of Ukraine, a nation of 46 million that has divided loyalties between Russia and the West.





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