DHAKA: About 1,000 protesters blocked off the Ukrainian government’s main headquarters on Monday and surrounding streets, preventing employees getting to work, in further protests at Kiev’s policy U-turn away from integration with Europe.

In response to an opposition call for a nationwide strike over president Viktor Yanukovich’s policy switch back towards Russia, protesters blocked the main approach road to the government building with trash bins, metal containers and even flower pots.

‘Employees can not get into the building. Negotiations are going on with protesters to allow employees in,’ a spokesman for prime minister Mykola Azarov said, reports daily Hurriyet.

He added that Azarov had not yet arrived for work.

Protesters focused their attention on the government building after an opposition-led rally of about 350,000 people in the capital on Sunday, marred by violent clashes between police and protesters.

There was no immediate word from Yanukovich who is due to leave on an official visit to China on Tuesday.

His press service said employees at his administration were working normally but it declined to say where he himself was.

BDST: 1622 HRS, DEC 02, 2013