Days of deadly unrest in Kiev

A snapshot of events in Ukraine, where the regime of President Viktor Yanukovych appeared close to collapse on Saturday as the opposition took control of Kiev and voted to immediately freed its jailed leader Yulia Tymoshenko.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18

- Violence erupts as 20,000 pro-European protesters march from Kiev's Independence Square to parliament to demand President Viktor Yanukovych be stripped of key powers.

- Kiev shuts down the subway and limits traffic as protesters retake the city hall.

- Riot police break through barricades but thousands of protesters armed with stones, fireworks and petrol bombs refuse to leave the square.

- Unrest spreads to western Ukraine, where protesters swarm public buildings in Lviv.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19:

- Security forces halt a drive to take over the protest camp as people stream in with food, clothing and medication for demonstrators.

- Yanukovych fires the army's chief and security services announce an "anti-terrorist" operation.

- NATO warns the army not to take part in operations against the protestors.

- Russia calls the protests "an attempted coup d'etat".

- The European Union calls an emergency meeting to mull sanctions against those behind the unrest, which had killed around 28 people, including 10 police officers.

- Yanukovych meets opposition leaders and calls for a "truce".

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20:

- Police open fire, killing more than 60 people according to opposition medics.

- The interior ministry accuses "extremists" of holding 67 of its troops hostage.

- The mayor of Kiev and more than a dozen deputies from Yukanovych's Regions Party resign in protest against the "blood bath".

- The European Union says it will impose sanctions on Ukrainians with "blood on their hands" as foreign ministers from France, Germany and Poland meet with Yanukovych.

- The United States voices "outrage" that Ukrainian troops shot protesters.

- Yanukovych appears ready to hold early elections, a key opposition demand.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21:

- Interior ministry accuses protestors of shooting at police, opposition issues denial.

- The army's second-in-command resigns, saying the government tried to get soldiers to put down unrest.

- Standard & Poor's lowers long-term credit rating on Ukraine to CCC.

- Yanukovych offers to hold an early presidential election to end the crisis.

- President and opposition leaders sign a deal that includes early elections and the formation of a new unity government.

- Parliament votes to return Ukraine to 2004 constitution, limiting the president's powers.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22:

- Yanukovych unexpectedly leaves Kiev to attend a conference of political allies in Kharkiv, in eatern city that represents the bedrock of his pro-Russian support.

- Pro-Yanukovych parliament speaker resigns, deputies elect Oleksandr Turchynov, the right-hand man of jailed opposition Yulia Tymoshenko.

- Deputies vote to name another Tymoshenko ally, Arsen Avakov, as interim interior minister.

- Ukraine's interior ministry says "it is at the service of the people and completely shares its aspirations for rapid changes."

- Parliament votes to immediately release Tymoshenko.

- The foreign minister of Germany who helped mediate Friday's deal to end the crisis, urges all sides to respect the agreement.