Beleaguered Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych says he has agreed to scrap harsh anti-protest legislation that sparked violent clashes.

Two people were shot dead early yesterday in anti-government protests in Ukraine, the first fatalities in the increasingly heated clashes with police in the streets of the Ukrainian capital, raising concerns that the movement is spiralling into a more dangerous phase of violence.

KARL MARX famously remarked that major historical events occur twice — the “first time as tragedy, then as farce”.

A solution to Ukraine’s political turmoil is remaining elusive with thousands of people continuing to gather on Kiev’s Independence Square and besiege key government buildings.

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.

Ukraine President Viktor Yushchenko dissolved Ukraine’s parliament today and called early elections.

Politicians who supported President Viktor Yushchenko during the Orange Revolution appealed to Ukrainians to return to Kiev’s Independence Square today for a rally.

Belarus’ main opposition candidate demanded a new vote today as President Alexander Lukashenko stormed to victory by a massive margin.

UKRAINIAN president Viktor Yushchenko, who visited Auschwitz yesterday, recalled his father’s ordeal in the death camp he described as a “sacred place” for him and his family.

Opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko savoured his apparent victory in Ukraine’s presidential election rerun tonight, but his bitter opponent refused to admit defeat.

Ukraine’s top security service denied today that it had any involvement with the poisoning of opposition candidate Viktor Yushchenko (pictured), the leading candidate in Boxing Day’s rerun for the presidency.

Ukraine’s parliament is meeting today to set the wheels in motion for a new presidential election, after the disputed run-off was declared void by the Supreme Court.

Ukraine was awaiting a supreme court verdict on its tainted presidential election today with all signs pointing to another poll, perhaps as early as next month.

UKRAINE’S highest court yesterday blocked the inauguration of the country’s Moscow-backed prime minister as president, giving a fresh impetus to his liberal opponent who has led street protests to overturn his election.

The Ukrainian presidential election result was frozen today until the Supreme Court considers an appeal by the opposition candidate, who claims the vote was rigged.

Defeated presidential candidate Viktor Yushchenko appealed to Ukraine’s Supreme Court today to declare the election results invalid, stepping up actions in the country’s political crisis.

Opposition leaders in Ukraine prepared today for a nationwide strike to protest the government’s decision to name Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych winner of a presidential election amid allegations of vote-rigging.

Election officials today declared Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych the winner of Ukraine’s presidential election, prompting opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko to call for a nationwide strike to protest what his camp contends was brazen vote fraud.