(MENAFN- Qatar News Agency) Thousands of protesters have remained in Kiev's main square despite the deal signed on Friday aiming at ending Ukraine's political crisis, in which dozens have died. The pact, signed by Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and the opposition, says a unity government will be formed and a presidential election held. But many protesters do not believe Yanukovych can be trusted, according to the BBC. The deal, reached after mediation by EU foreign ministers, came after the bloodiest day since the unrest began in November
Police opened fire on Thursday on protesters who have been occupying Independence Square in central Kiev. The health ministry said 77 people had been killed since Tuesday. The deal has been met with scepticism by some of the thousands of protesters who remain in the square. Meanwhile one group of far-right protesters is threatening to take action if President Yanukovych does not resign by Saturday morning. The US and Russian presidents have agreed that the deal needs to be swiftly implemented, officials say.
Russia's Vladimir Putin told Barack Obama that Russia wants be part of the implementation process in a telephone conversation on Friday, a US State Department spokesperson said. The White House welcomed Friday's deal, praising "the courageous opposition leaders who recognised the need for compromise". The US remained prepared to impose sanctions on the Ukrainian government if the violence continues, it said in a statement. Shortly after the deal was signed, Ukraine's parliament approved the restoration of the 2004 constitution, with all but one of the 387 MPs present voting in favour.
Parliament also approved an amnesty for protesters accused of involvement in violence. MPs voted for a change in the law which could lead to the release of Yulia Tymoshenko, an arch-rival of Yanukovych. She was sentenced to seven years in prison in 2011 for abuse of power. Her supporters say this was simply Yanukovych taking out his most prominent opponent. The protests first erupted in late November when Yanukovych rejected a landmark association and trade deal with the EU in favour of closer ties with Russia
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