Kiev amnesty

Kiev, Jan. 31 (Reuters): Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich today signed into law a conditional amnesty for those detained in mass unrest on the streets and approved the repeal of anti-protest legislation, his website said.

The repeal of sweeping anti-protest laws by parliament has been welcomed by thousands demonstrating on the streets of Kiev, but they have rejected the amnesty because it is conditional on occupied buildings being cleared of activists. Yanukovich signed the set of laws into force even though he is on official sick leave suffering from an acute respiratory ailment, according to his website.

Concessions not enough: Kerry

US secretary of state John Kerry said today that concessions made by Yanukovich to the Opposition did not go far enough, as political turmoil sent the hryvnia currency tumbling to four-and-a-half year lows.

Kerry, speaking with German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier during a visit to Berlin, also said “outside powers” should not get involved in a crisis that he said was for the Ukrainian people to resolve.