Tymoshenko freed. Yanukovych refuses to resign

Former Ukraine PM Yulia Tymoshenko was freed Saturday from two years in jail, declaring “Dictatorship has fallen. All must be done to ensure that protesters did not die in vain." A commitment by President Viktor Yanukovych to release her lease was contained in his deal with the opposition Friday. Yanukovych earlier announced – apparently from the eastern town of Kharkiv -, that he would not resign. He said the parliament resolution dismissing a legally elected president and calling a May election was illegal. He called the protesters’ seizure of the presidential office in Kiev “a coup by gangsters and armed extremists.” In contrast to parliament, the Party of Regions initiated a meeting Saturday of deputies of all levels (city councils, regional councils) of the eastern and southern regions of Ukraine, where Yanukovych appears to be marshalling support. Local governments called on the army and police to secure ammunitions stores across the country.