Ukrainian president agrees to hold early election

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich has announced an agreement to hold presidential elections early, form a national unity government and make constitutional changes reducing his powers.

He made the announcement in a statement after all-night talks with the opposition and three European Union ministers on resolving a crisis in which at least people were killed in two days of gun battles between protesters and police.

There was no immediate confirmation, however, from the opposition that it would accept the plan and call off protests.

Yanukovich said he had also agreed to a national unity government, and to make constitutional changes reducing the power of the president.

The compromise came after hours of talks with the opposition leaders.

The opposition has not spoken about the deal and it remains unclear whether protesters will back it.

The German and Polish foreign ministers, who mediated the talks in Kiev, are now on their way to talk to protesters in Kiev's Independence Square.

The 2004 constitution will be restored within 48 hours, and a national unity government will be formed within 10 days. Moreover, Constitutional reform balancing the powers of president, government and parliament will be started immediately and completed by September. A presidential election will be held after the new constitution is adopted but no later than December 2014

Protesters and police are still locked in a stand-off in Kiev, a day after dozens were killed in violent clashes.

Isolated outbursts of violence were reported in central Kiev on Friday morning.

The police said they had traded gunfire with protesters, and Ukrainian media said riot police were patrolling inside parliament during a session.

MPs once again began their session with scuffles, as the speaker tried to adjourn a debate concerning constitutional changes.

The protests first erupted in late November when President Yanukovych rejected a landmark association and trade deal with the EU in favour of closer ties with Russia.