Ukrainian president announces 'truce'

[The Straight Story]

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych announced a "truce" and the start of direct talks with the opposition after holding private talks with three anti-government leaders.

"Based on the results of the meeting, the sides announced a truce and the start of a negotiations process aimed at ending the bloodshed (and) stabilising the situation in the country for the benefit of civil peace," a statement on the president's website said.

The talks included opposition leader Vitali Klitschko.

Earlier, Mr Yanukovych replaced the head of the army's general staff after announcing a new "anti-terror" operation.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2014/0219/505236-ukraine-kiev/

[pampango]

1. "Mr Yanukovych replaced the head of the army's general staff after announcing a new "anti-terror"

operation."

President fires commander who urged restraint, as security service launches "anti-terrorist" drive against protesters

Zamana was known to have publicly disagreed with Yanukovych at the start of the month when the embattled Ukrainian leader first considered imposing a state of emergency in response to the wave of pro-EU protests gripping Kiev and other parts of the country.

The ousted army chief said on February 1 that "no one had the right to use the armed forces to restrict the rights of citizens" - a statement that won him wide praise in the protest movement.

The 51-year-old Iliin, reportedly a Belarusian, had until now served as the head of Ukraine's navy. He is viewed as a strong Yanukovich loyalist.

Al Jazeera's Andrew Simmons, reporting from Kiev, said the new army chief is considered a more hardline option - and local media suggest the president's decision was in preparation for military action against the protesters.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2014/02/ukraine-president-replaces-army-chief-201421922549181188.html

Certainly hope that the truce is genuine and that it holds.