Ukraine President, Opposition Make Progress
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Parliament to Repeal Antidissent Laws, Hold No-Confidence Vote.
President Viktor Yanukovych and Ukraine’s three main opposition leaders agreed for Parliament to repeal antidissent laws and hold a vote of no confidence in the government, the country’s justice minister said.
Monday’s moves mark progress toward easing a political crisis, but remain short of protesters’ main demand for snap presidential elections.
After a fourth round of talks on Monday, the two sides agreed that their political parties would vote to abolish a raft of laws passed last week that severely restrict dissent, said the minister, Olena Lukash. Some of the laws could be approved by Parliament again on Tuesday, she said.
Arseniy Yatsenyuk, an opposition leader, refused Mr. Yanukovych’s offer to serve as prime minister, Ms. Lukash said.
It is unclear whether the no-confidence vote will pass. Mr. Yanukovych’s party holds a solid majority in Parliament, although some lawmakers in the ruling party have expressed displeasure with the government’s performance.
The proposals are likely to be voted on at an extraordinary session of Parliament on Tuesday, called to try to end more than two months of antigovernment protests here.
The opposition leaders, including boxer-turned-politician Vitali Klitschko, also agreed with the president on a law offering amnesty for protesters, but only after they withdraw from the buildings and roads they are occupying,
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