<p>Prime Minister Mykola Azarov resigned today in a bid to defuse Ukraine's deadly crisis and preserve its unity, finally giving into months of pressure from street protesters.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Azarov said he had taken a "personal decision" to resign to preserve Ukraine's unity as parliament opened a session to vote on reforms and concessions backed by President Viktor Yanukovych.<br /><br />The European Union and United States cranked up pressure on Yanukovych to impose serious reforms to end a standoff that turned parts of Kiev into a war zone patrolled by masked protesters and left three activists dead.<br /><br />After a four hour meeting with opposition leaders, the presidency said that controversial anti-protest laws passed on January 16 would be cancelled and amnesty granted for jailed protesters on conditions public buildings and streets were freed up.<br /><br />EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton brought forward a visit to Kiev by several days while US Vice President Joe Biden urged Yanukovych to work with the opposition on "immediate measures" to de-escalate the crisis.<br /><br />The crisis was also due to dominate a summit between the European Union and Russia attended by President Vladimir Putin who will not want the standoff to overshadow the Winter Olympics in Sochi starting February 7.<br /><br />In a dramatic morning announcement, Azarov yielded to months of pressure from the opposition who have made his resignation a key demand of protests based on Independence Square in Kiev.<br /><br />Azarov said that he hoped his resignation would create "an additional possibility for a political compromise to peacefully resolve the conflict".<br /><br />"The government has done everything during this standoff for a peaceful resolution of the conflict," he said, adding that his cabinet had been forced to work in "extreme conditions".<br /><br />"Today the most important thing is to preserve the unity and integrity of Ukraine. This is far more important than any personal plans or ambitions. That is why I have taken this decision," he said.<br /><br />There was no immediate comment from the opposition, with a spokesman for the Fatherland Party telling AFP they were waiting to confirm that Yanukovych would accept the resignation.</p>
<p>Prime Minister Mykola Azarov resigned today in a bid to defuse Ukraine's deadly crisis and preserve its unity, finally giving into months of pressure from street protesters.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Azarov said he had taken a "personal decision" to resign to preserve Ukraine's unity as parliament opened a session to vote on reforms and concessions backed by President Viktor Yanukovych.<br /><br />The European Union and United States cranked up pressure on Yanukovych to impose serious reforms to end a standoff that turned parts of Kiev into a war zone patrolled by masked protesters and left three activists dead.<br /><br />After a four hour meeting with opposition leaders, the presidency said that controversial anti-protest laws passed on January 16 would be cancelled and amnesty granted for jailed protesters on conditions public buildings and streets were freed up.<br /><br />EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton brought forward a visit to Kiev by several days while US Vice President Joe Biden urged Yanukovych to work with the opposition on "immediate measures" to de-escalate the crisis.<br /><br />The crisis was also due to dominate a summit between the European Union and Russia attended by President Vladimir Putin who will not want the standoff to overshadow the Winter Olympics in Sochi starting February 7.<br /><br />In a dramatic morning announcement, Azarov yielded to months of pressure from the opposition who have made his resignation a key demand of protests based on Independence Square in Kiev.<br /><br />Azarov said that he hoped his resignation would create "an additional possibility for a political compromise to peacefully resolve the conflict".<br /><br />"The government has done everything during this standoff for a peaceful resolution of the conflict," he said, adding that his cabinet had been forced to work in "extreme conditions".<br /><br />"Today the most important thing is to preserve the unity and integrity of Ukraine. This is far more important than any personal plans or ambitions. That is why I have taken this decision," he said.<br /><br />There was no immediate comment from the opposition, with a spokesman for the Fatherland Party telling AFP they were waiting to confirm that Yanukovych would accept the resignation.</p>