Smoke bombs thrown in Ukrainian parliament

Eggs and smoke bombs were thrown in the Ukrainian parliament today as it ratified a controversial agreement on extending the lease for Russia's Black Sea fleet.

The measure is also up for ratification in the Russian parliament, where a far more orderly session was under way today.

The measure agreed to last week by the Ukrainian and Russian presidents will extend the navy's lease at the port of Sevastopol for 25 years after the old lease expires in 2017.

The deal is the most concrete sign of Russia's renewed influence in Ukraine since Viktor Yanukovych became president in February.

Mr Yanukovych replaced Viktor Yushchenko, who pushed to move Ukraine out of Moscow's shadow and integrate more closely with Western Europe.