Ukraine?s Prime Minister Mykola Azarov resigns

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Wpid Ukraine
Ukraine?s Prime Minister Mykola Azarov Resigns

Ukraine

Ukraine?s Prime Minister Mykola Azarov has offered his resignation to try to end the protests gripping cities across the country.

In a statement, he said the move was designed to create ?social and political compromise?.

Parliament is meanwhile holding an emergency debate on the crisis.

It plans to vote on repealing controversial anti-protest legislation, which President Viktor Yanukovych has already agreed to scrap.

In his resignation statement, PM Azarov said: ?To create additional opportunities for social and political compromise and for a peaceful solution to the conflict, I made a personal decision to ask the president of Ukraine to accept my resignation as prime minister of Ukraine?.

The government had ?done everything to ensure the peaceful resolution of the conflict? and would do ?everything possible to prevent bloodshed, an escalation of violence, and violation of citizen?s rights?, he said.

If the president signs the decree for the PM?s resignation, then the whole cabinet resigns, says the BBC?s David Stern in Kiev. But they can remain in their posts for 60 days until a new government is formed.

?Free vote?

Confirmation that the president had agreed to get rid of the protest law came in a statement on the presidential website from Justice Minister Olena Lukash.

?A political decision has been made to abolish the laws adopted on January 16 that caused multiple discussions,? she said.

However, it is unclear whether MP?s will back the president?s decision. MPs from his governing Party of the Regions are being allowed a ?free vote? ? to vote as they see fit.

Opposition to the law has helped fuel deadly clashes between anti-government protesters and police.

The assembly is due to tackle other opposition demands, such as an amnesty for arrested activists.

Mr Yanukovych offered an amnesty only if protesters cleared barricades and stopped attacking government buildings.

The president made the concessions during talks with the three main opposition leaders on Monday ? Fatherland leader Arseniy Yatsenyuk, Udar (Punch) chief Vitali Klitschko, and nationalist leader Oleg Tyahnybok.

Mr Yanukovych repeated an offer to Mr Yatsenyuk to assume the post of prime minister, which Mr Yatsenyuk formally turned down.

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