DHAKA: Ukraine prime minister Mykola Azarov resigned on Tuesday in a bid to defuse the country’s deadly crisis and preserve its unity, finally giving into months of pressure from street protesters.

Azarov said he had taken a ‘personal decision’ to resign to preserve Ukraine’s unity as parliament opened a session to vote on reforms and concessions backed by president Viktor Yanukovych.

The European Union and United States cranked up pressure on Yanukovych to impose serious reforms to end a standoff that turned parts of Kiev into a war zone patrolled by masked protesters and left three activists dead.

After a four-hour meeting with opposition leaders, the presidency said that controversial anti-protest laws passed on Jan 16 would be cancelled and amnesty granted for jailed protesters on conditions public buildings and streets were freed up.

BDST: 1658 HRS, JAN 28, 2014