Protesters besiege government building in Ukraine

KIEV: Hundreds of Ukrainian protesters have blocked entrances to the government building and called for the ouster of the prime minister and his cabinet.

The early Monday blockade follows a massive rally in the capital a day earlier by hundreds of thousands Ukrainians angered by President Viktor Yanukovych’s refusal to sign a political and economic agreement with the European Union and opting instead for closer ties with Moscow.

While the main rally was peaceful, violence erupted when protesters tried to storm Yanukovych’s office Sunday. After hours of scuffles, police chased protesters away with tears gas and truncheons.

A police action against protesters early on Saturday has galvanized the protests whose aim is to bring down the president and his government.