Ukraine protests: Tens of thousands in Kiev EU march

Tens of thousands of anti-Government demonstrators have marched through Ukraine’s capital to protest the president’s refusal to sign an agreement with the European Union.

The demonstrators sang the national anthem and chanted “Ukraine is Europe” while waving EU and Ukrainian flags.

Protests have been held daily in Kiev for more than a week after President Viktor Yanukovych backed away from an agreement that would have established free trade and deepened political cooperation between Ukraine and the EU.

He justified this by saying Ukraine could not afford to break trade ties with Russia.

The agreement was to have been signed on Friday and since then the protests have gained strength.