KIEV, Ukraine
Ukraine’s opposition leaders have turned down an offer made by President Viktor Yanukovych to end two-month long protests, but are willing to negotiate, said officials on Saturday.
“We do not reject the offer, but we also do not accept it,” said opposition leader Arseniy Yatsenyuk to a crowd of protesters gathered in the capital city Kiev’s Independence Square.
President Yanukovych offered Yatsenyuk the Prime Ministerial post in an effort to end weeks of protests and unrest in Kiev. As part of the proposed deal Vitali Klitschko, opposition leader and former boxing champion, was to become deputy prime minister.
Yatsenyuk stated that while the opposition is ready to lead the country, Yanukovych has not yet agreed to several opposition demands, which include calling presidential elections, that would challenge Yanukovych's role, this year. General elections are scheduled for 2015.
“We are prepared to take over the government, with the purpose of leading the country into the European Union,” said Yatsenyuk.
Another of the oppostion's demands is the cancellation of a group of laws restricting freedom of speech and freedom of assembly signed on January 16.
Yatsenyuk called Tuesday, when a special session of parliament has been scheduled to deal with the crisis, "judgement day."
Protests have been taking place in Kiev since early December, after President Yanukovych decided not to sign a trade agreement with the European Union in favor of closer ties with Russia.
Some members of the international community have suggested the possibility of economic and political sanctions in response to violence against protesters.
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