Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov resigned on Tuesday in a bid to defuse the country’s deadly crisis, as parliament scrapped anti-protest laws that had infuriated the opposition.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov resigned on Tuesday in a bid to defuse the country’s deadly crisis, giving in to months of pressure from demonstrators as parliament scrapped anti-protest laws that had infuriated the opposition.

Azarov said he had taken a "personal decision" to resign to keep Ukraine together as a state, as parliament met in emergency session to vote on reforms and amendments backed by President Viktor Yanukovych.

Parliament overwhelmingly voted to scrap anti-protest laws that sparked the current crisis when the ruling party pushed them through the Verkhovna Rada on January 16.

Azarov said that he hoped his resignation would create "an additional possibility for a political compromise to peacefully resolve the conflict".
"Today the most important thing is to preserve the unity and integrity of Ukraine," he said.

The resignation still has to be approved by Yanukovych to take effect.
The leader of the UDAR (Punch) party, world boxing champion Vitali Klitschko, said Azarov's move would only partially satisfy the opposition.

"This is not victory but a step to victory," said Klitschko.
The opposition still wants to push their rebellion and oust Yanukovych from power, possibly through early elections which are currently due only in 2015.

Applause broke out in parliament including from opposition benches after the vote to scrap the protest laws, which passed with 361 deputies in favor and two against.

With other concessions on the agenda including an amnesty for jailed activists, parliament adjourned until an afternoon session starting at 1400 GMT.
Amid a fast-evolving political situation the streets of Kiev were calm on Tuesday in contrast to days of clashes last week.