DHAKA: Ukraine’s first post-independence president has warned the country is on the ‘brink of civil War’ as parliament debates an amnesty for protesters.

Leonid Kravchuk, president from 1991 to 1994, opened the debate in parliament by urging everyone involved to ‘act with the greatest responsibility’, reports the BBC.

President Viktor Yanukovych wants any amnesty conditional on demonstrators leaving official buildings.

The opposition has so far ruled this out and is demanding early elections.

On Tuesday, prime minister Mykola Azarov and his cabinet resigned after months of protests.

Parliament also scrapped a controversial anti-protest law in the biggest concession yet to opposition protesters.

BDST: 1717 HRS, JAN 29, 2014