Ukraine Interior Ministry Sides With Protesters

The Ukrainian President has left the capital.

ByABC News
February 22, 2014, 9:05 AM
Anti-government protesters dig up cobblestones to use them as rocks against riot police on Kiev's Independence square, Feb. 19, 2014.
Anti-government protesters dig up cobblestones to use them as rocks against riot police on Kiev's Independence square, Feb. 19, 2014.
Piero Quaranta/AFP/Getty Images

Feb. 22, 2014— -- After a week of battling protesters in the streets of Kiev, the Ukrainian Interior Ministry announced today they were siding with the protesters.

In the statement the ministry says it shares the desire for “change as soon as possible” and goes on to call for calm and for protesters to avoid attacking police as they work towards building a new country.

The statement ends with the phrase “Slava Ukraini!” or “Glory to Ukraine!,” which has been the rallying cry in Independence Square for months.

This week was marked by bloody clashes between police forces and protesters in Kiev, which left dozens killed.

A spokeswoman for Ukranian President Viktor Yanukovych told ABC News the president has left the capital after days of fighting. He later told Ukrainian television that he won't resign.