Enraged protesters stormed government offices in three western Ukraine cities today, forcing one governor to write a letter of resignation, as demonstrations against the pro-Russian president and his allies intensified outside the smouldering capital.

Protesters in Kiev lifted their siege of Ukraine’s government building today as tensions following weeks of demonstrations ebbed with parliament’s adoption of electoral reform before a new presidential run-off vote at the end of the month.

A tentative deal to ease Ukraine’s political crisis snagged today over the opposition’s refusal to endorse constitutional changes and President Leonid Kuchma’s rejection of the call to fire his prime minister.

Shrugging off a parliamentary setback and seizing on his Supreme Court victory, opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko pushed for quick passage of anti-fraud legislation to ensure a new vote is fair against his Moscow-backed rival, who has fallen out of public view.

Three armed bank robbers were captured today - and their young hostage freed - after a two day police chase across three nations.