- Title: UKRAINE: Maidan opposition crowd demands Yanukovich's resignation
- Date: 21st February 2014
- Summary: KIEV, UKRAINE (FEBRUARY 21, 2014) (REUTERS) ***NIGHT SHOTS*** CROWDS IN MAIDAN HOLDING UP THEIR LIT MOBILE PHONES OPEN COFFIN OF DEAD PROTESTER IN ARMY FATIGUES BEING PICKED UP COFFIN BEING CARRIED THROUGH CROWD (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) LEADER OF THE RIGHT SECTOR, DMITRO YAROSH, SAYING: "The Right Sector is calling all units of Maidan to continue the common fight againmst the regime of the internal occupation. We are ready to take responsibility for the continuation of the Ukrainian revolution. Glory to Ukraine." YAROSH STANDING ON STAGE WITH RIGHT SECTOR MEMBERS (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) LEADER OF THE RIGHT SECTOR, DMITRO YAROSH, SAYING: "The Right Sector will not stop blocking a single public building until our main demand, the resignation of Yanukovish, is fulfilled." VARIOUS OF CROWD CHANTING " TRIBUNAL, TRIBUNAL" (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION UDAR PARTY, VITALY KLITSCHKO, SAYING: "I have spent a lot of time, a lot of nights, here in Maidan, and today was the first time I couldn't speak because of the heckling crowds, because they didn't want to listen to me, because I extentended my hand to Viktor Yanukovich. I understand why, I took no pleasure in doing it." CROWD APPLAUDING (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION UDAR PARTY, VITALY KLITSCHKO, SAYING: "I want to say one thing: I ask you to forgive me if I offended anybody, but I am honestly doing everything I can for Ukraine to win. I am honestly doing everything I can so blood will not be spilled, and I am honestly doing everything for this gang to go." CROWDS LISTENING VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS OUTSIDE PARLIAMENT BUILDING VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS STANDING GUARD AT CABINET OF MINISTERS WHERE POLICE HAD EARLIER BEEN VARIOUS OF EMPTY STREETS
- Embargoed: 8th March 2014 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Ukraine
- Country: Ukraine
- Topics: Conflict,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA99KM47TTXCZFYZRT3RFI054XA
- Story Text: Emotional but peaceful crowds in Kiev's Independence Square rounded on their opposition leaders on Friday (February 21) after they signed an agreement with President Viktor Yanukovich to end a protracted crisis, and said people would not wait until later this year for him to go.
Passions ran high as a coffin of a victim from Thursday's (February 20) violence was borne through the crowd to the stage on Independence Square apparently catching opposition leaders off guard.
Ukraine's opposition leaders signed the EU-mediated peace pact with Yanukovich earlier on Friday, winning a raft of concessions in a delicate deal to end violence that killed at least 77 people and turned the capital into a battle zone.
Speaking to crowds at a rally in Kiev's Indepencence Square, called "Maidan" by the opposition since the start of the protests, Right Sector leader Dmitro Yarosh said his group was prepared to continue fighting until Yanukovich left office.
"The Right Sector is calling all units of Maidan to continue the common fight againmst the regime of the internal occupation. We are ready to take responsibility for the continuation of the Ukrainian revolution," he said after taking to the stage.
"The Right Sector will not stop blocking a single public building until our main demand, the resignation of Yanukovish, is fulfilled," he added.
Vitaly Klitschko, leader of the opposition Udar party drew cat-calls and derisive whistling from the crowd when he had praised as "very important" their political achievements during the day.
Klitschko and fellow opposition leaders, Arseny Yatsenyuk and nationalist Oleh Tyanibok, earlier signed the deal with Yanukovich in which Yanukovich made important concessions after two and a half months of confrontation on the streets of Kiev.
These included early elections, formation of an interim government and a return to an earlier constitution which will mean him giving up key powers, including control over the make-up of the government.
Klitschko apologised to crowds for shaking Yanukovich's hand.
"I have spent a lot of time, a lot of nights, here in Maidan, and today was the first time I couldn't speak because of the heckling crowds, because they didn't want to listen to me, because I extentended my hand to Viktor Yanukovich. I understand why, I took no pleasure in doing it," he said.
"I want to say one thing: I ask you to forgive me if I offended anybody, but I am honestly doing everything I can for Ukraine to win," he added.
"I am honestly doing everything I can so blood will not be spilled, and I am honestly doing everything for this gang to go," he said.
Many protesters were firm in their rejection of their accord saying they would only be satisfied when Yanukovich stepped down. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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