Ukraine president offers premiership to opposition, amid threats of violence

(Vatican Radio) Ukraine's embattled President Viktor Yanukovich has offered the premiership to key opposition leader Arseny Yatsenyuk, amid spreading protests across the country, officials said. The offer came just hours after the government warned that attempts to resolve the crisis in the country peacefully were "futile".

Saturday's talks came as protests spread throughout the country following clashes between riot police and demonstrators that killed at least four protesters and one police officer.


Yanukovich earlier met church leaders who he warned that his government would use force against what he called radical demonstrators.


"I don't want people frozen in the streets," he told representatives of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and other groups. "If we can stop the radicals in a good way we will, if not we are going to use all measures under the law," he added.


Yanukovich also pledged to reshuffle his Cabinet. Yet, heavyweight boxing champion-turned opposition leader Vitaly Klitschkos said protesters want the president

to step down.

"NO JUSTICE"

“Just to change ministers is not enough for people who want to change the rule, because they have already tried to live without the rules,” Klitschkos said. “You can buy every court, you can’t find justice in our country.”

Nearby in Central Kyiv protesters defended making catapults and other medieval weapons after several demonstrators were killed in clashes with

police.


"These people kill us. So what?", explained a young man.


At least one police officer was also killed in clashes. Yet, mainly protesters have complained of mistreatment.


ATTACKED IN FOREST


They include Igor Lutsenko who said he was beaten by unknown men after he drove an injured fellow activist to a hospital.


"They brought us to the forest, put us on the ground, and started to question and beat us," he recalled. "From their style, I realized they do that all the time. They were very experienced with that."

The fellow activist, Yuri Verbitsky eventually died while Lutsenko managed to escape.


Lutsenko says the action was aimed at intimidating protesters. Rights activists are investigating claims that dozens of demonstrators have disappeared or are mistreated.


Despite the apparent crackdown, anti-government rallies continue. Besides demanding the president's resignation, protesters want closer ties with the European Union.


The EU’s enlargement commissioner Štefan Füle has been trying to mediate in the conflict.


But Yatsenyuk, leader of the opposition Fatherland Party remains pessimistic. “As far as I understand, the government is not ready to accept any kind of mediators from the Western world,” he complained.


Yet between the chaos there was some hope Saturday. A couple married near the burning barricades in Kyiv. "We want to be here, to support Maidan," the name of the main Kyiv square and protest movement, "and to support the struggle for out country," the groom said.


"We love out country and we love each other," he added, kissing his smiling bride.

And church leaders hope peace will be restored to the volatile nation.

Listen to Stefan Bos’ report: