Ukrainian government eyes talks with opposition over protests

Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov on Thursday announced his government's readiness to enter into negotiations with opposition leaders over massive protests here in recent two weeks. "We are ready to create a negotiating group to normalize the situation in the capital," Azarov said in the framework of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) ministerial council. The meeting of ministers from the OSCE countries had been scheduled long before the protests in the Ukrainian capital. Azarov once again called on demonstrators to stop their blockade of administrative buildings to resume the normal functioning of government agencies. The rally in Kiev against the government's decision to suspend a trade pact with the European Union (EU) has lasted 14 days. The protests escalated last weekend after the violent clashes between police and protesters left over 50 protesters injured. Shortly after the clashes, protesters occupied Ukraine's administrative buildings, demands the impeachment of President Viktor Yanukovych, resignation of the government and dissolution of parliament. Ukraine, due to sign partnership agreements with the EU at the Eastern Partnership Summit in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius on Nov. 28-29, put the deal on hold on Nov. 21 for closer trade ties with Russia instead. The announcement has since triggered waves of protests in major Ukrainian cities.