KIEV (AFP) - Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych offered opposition leader Arseniy Yatsenyuk the post of prime minister in a bid to resolve the country's political crisis, the presidency said on Saturday.

In talks with the opposition, Mr Yatsenyuk was offered the post of government chief in place of Mykola Azarov, the presidency said in a statement. Fellow opposition leader and world boxing champion Vitali Klitschko was offered the post of deputy prime minister in charge of humanitarian affairs.

The president also promised to consider changes to the Ukrainian constitution - which currently gives the head of state huge powers - either through a referendum or through legislation.