Protesters Reject President’s Offer Of Concessions

KIEV, Ukraine (AP) – Protesters in Ukraine are rejecting an offer of concessions from the country’s president. Viktor Yanukovych promised today to reshuffle his government and to grant amnesty to dozens of jailed activists. And he promised to make changes in a tough new law cracking down on dissent.

But a top opposition leader says nothing short of his resignation will do. Protesters today continued occupying government buildings in a number of cities in western Ukraine. Government buildings in other cities have been besieged by angry crowds. The anger has been fueled by the deaths of at least two protesters, and allegations of abuse by authorities against demonstrators. The protests began after Yanukovych scrapped a key treaty with the European Union in order to secure a bailout loan from Russia. More Ukrainians favor closer ties with the EU than support a new alliance with Russia.