Ukraine crisis: What's been happening

Anti-government protesters are transported in a truck body in central Kiev Feb 22, 2014. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Anti-government protesters are transported in a truck body in central Kiev Feb 22, 2014. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

Months of protests in Ukraine and deadly clashes in recent days between anti-government protesters and police culminated on Saturday with parliament voting to oust President Viktor Yanukovych.

In a statement released on her official website, Ukrainian opposition icon Yulia Tymoshenko declared that "the dictatorship has fallen", after nearly 100 died in violent clashes that set in motion the topple of President Yanukovych, whose whereabouts remain unknown since he abandoned the capital.

She added: "It fell thanks to those people who came out to defend themselves, their families and their country."

Meanwhile, the United States and International Monetary Fund have offered their help to rebuild Ukraine's economy, which has been battered by the months-long turmoil that plunged the country into its worst crisis since independence.

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