The same opposition members demanding the resignation of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych just turned down an offer to be part of his government.
The move comes as the stand-off intensifies between the government and opposition in Kiev — with protesters demanding the repeal of a recently-passed set of anti-protest laws. (Via ITN)
In an attempt to quell the clashes, Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych agreed to reconsider those laws and offered to make opposition leader Arseniy Yatsenyuk his prime minister. (ViaWorld Economic Forum, Wikimedia Commons / Арсен Яковенко)
And Yanukovych offered the job of deputy prime minister for humanitarian affairs to Vitali Klitschko, a former heavyweight boxing champ. (Via Wikimedia Commons /Mstyslav Chernov)
The president's offer came on the condition the protestors must first withdraw from all government buildings they're occupying, as well as from Kiev Square — a condition they flatly rejected.
Yatsenyuk tweeted "No deal @ua_yanukovych, we're finishing what we started. The people decide our leaders, not you."
The protests started back in November after Yanukovych rejected an economic treaty with the European Union, in favor of closer ties with Russia. (Via Euronews )
Yanukovych's decision came as a surprise. The accords were years in the making, and many in Ukraine saw them as a step toward a more prosperous economy.
Ever since, the opposition has been demanding the resignation of Yanukovych and his government. (Via CBS)
While many have portrayed Yanucovuch's offer as a major concession, theFinancial Times suggests the move may have been more calculated than that — noting the president's proposal left the protesters with little choice.
"By accepting the offer ... they would have risked alienating themselves from protesters on the square pressing for more ... But by rejecting the compromise deal they risk allowing the authorities to portray them as unwilling to accept any deal."
So far six people have died and more than 1000 have been injured since the clashes between protesters and police began in late November.
