KIEV (AFP) - Ukraine's pro-government parliament speaker Volodymyr Rybak submitted his resignation on Saturday on account of ill health, the chamber's deputy speaker told the opening of the Verkhovna Rada session.

Mr Rybak's decision came as several deputies said they were quitting President Viktor Yanuvkoych's ruling Regions Party in protest at the use of police force against protesters that led to nearly 100 deaths.