Ukraine protests: Thousands of demonstrators target government

Thousands of Ukrainian protesters have besieged government buildings in Kiev calling for the removal of the government as anger over a decision to ditch a deal for closer ties with the EU spread to other parts of the country.

The entrances to the cabinet and central bank buildings were blocked, after a huge rally in the capital by hundreds of thousands on Sunday.

It was mostly peaceful until a group tried to storm president Viktor Yanukovych’s office. After hours of scuffles, police chased them away with tear gas and truncheons, injuring dozens.

It was a violent police action against protesters on Saturday that galvanized the latest round of protests.

At least three MPs of the governing Party of Regions have quit in protest and one of them, Inna Bohoslovska, previously a vocal government supporter, called on others to leave the party.

The opposition is hoping to oust the cabinet of Prime Minister Mykola Azarov during a confidence vote in parliament on Tuesday.

The opposition would need 226 votes in the 450-seat Rada. Oleksandr Yefremov, head of the Party of Regions faction in parliament, said MPs might put a no-confidence motion up for a vote.