Thousands of protesters poured into Kiev’s Independence Square last night, the centre of Ukraine’s pro-West Orange Revolution, to demand that the government reverse course and sign a landmark agreement with the European Union.

Opposition MPs have booed Ukraine’s prime minister, whose government shelved a potential historic deal with the European Union, while turning towards Moscow.

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Rescue helicopters evacuated dozens of people from snow-blocked villages in Serbia and Bosnia and airlifted in emergency food and medicine as a severe cold spell kept eastern Europe in its icy grip.

Ukraine Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych showed no signs of giving in to pressure to step down, insisting he would challenge the results of Sunday’s presidential vote that gave opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko a solid victory.