(24 Jan 2014) Thousands of Ukrainian anti-government demonstrators readied themselves for another night out in the cold in Kiev's Independence Square on Friday, as opposition leaders asked for more time to negotiate with embattled President Viktor Yanukoyvch.
Many remained sceptical of the outcome of the talks but thought it necessary to wait until the result of a Tuesday special parliamentary session called by Yanukoyvch to tackle the crisis.
"I think that we should definitely wait for some time, but people shouldn't leave the streets and what we are expecting now is the resignation of Yanukoyvch and the overthrow of the Party of Region's (ruling party) regime," said demonstrator Bogdana Pavelychko.
The demonstrations began two months ago after Yanukovych abruptly ditched an association agreement with the European Union in favour of a bailout loan from Russia to help deal with the country's economic problems.
Demonstrations against him have spread from Ukraine's besieged capital to nearly half of the country.
Yanukovych promised on Friday to reshuffle his government, free scores of protesters from jail and make other concessions after demonstrations against him spread from Ukraine's besieged capital to nearly half of the country.
At a meeting with religious leaders, Yanukovych vowed that a special parliament meeting next Tuesday will push through changes to his Cabinet, grant amnesty to dozens of jailed activists who are not guilty of serious crimes and will change harsh anti-protest legislation.
In the western city of Lviv, a senior member of the elite police unit known as Berkut announced his resignation in protest over riot police's treatment of demonstrators.
Speaking from the occupied police headquarters, Captain Yaroslav, who declined to give his last name, said he expected more resignations to follow.
Yaroslav said he had served 24 years in the police, but was now "ashamed to look into the eyes of those guys who did such horrible things, like beating people."
The protests, which started in November have been largely peaceful, but they turned violent on Sunday after Yanukovych pushed through harsh anti-protest laws and stonewalled protesters' demands that he call new elections.
Two people were fatally shot in the clashes on Wednesday, the first deaths since the protests began, fuelling fears of further escalation.
The opposition has blamed the deaths on the authorities, but Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said on Thursday that the two men's wounds were caused by hunting rifles, which the police do not possess.
The opposition claimed that as many as five protesters were killed in Wednesday's clashes, though they said they have no evidence because the bodies were removed by authorities.
Opposition leaders had earlier set a Thursday evening deadline for the government to make concessions or face renewed clashes, but then pleaded with the crowds to extend the truce, even though the talks with Yanukovych brought little visible progress and there was no word about meeting the main demand for early elections.
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