Hundreds protest outside Ukrainian embassy in Dublin

Around 300 demonstrators gathered outside the Ukrainian embassy in Dublin today calling for the resignation of Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovich.

Protesters pushed through the gates of the embassy on Elgin Road in Ballsbridge this afternoon, before being removed by Gardaí.

Around 260 people, mostly members of the Ukrainian community in Ireland, signed a petition calling on the president to resign and for democratic elections to be held in the country.

A Garda spokesman said no arrests had been made.

Nadia Ivannikova, a teacher in the Ukrainian school Ridna Shkola in Carpenterstown in Dublin 15, who has been living in Ireland for 11 years, said the current regime was "organising terror" and must be stopped.

“We came today because wanted to support the Ukrainian people and protest against Yanukovich and his government, which is criminal.”

Ukrainian police continued to clash with protesters in the country’s capital Kiev today after Mr Yanukovich offered key posts to opposition leaders last night in a move described as a “poisoned” attempt to divide opposition and end the mass protests.

At least six people have been killed in the violent demonstrations, which erupted in November when Mr Yanokovich abandoned agreements with the European Union in favour of closer links with Russia.