Now comes opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko released: Parliament in Kiev ruled that they can be dismissed without the consent of the President from prison.

Spokeswoman Natasha Lysova said she was freed from prison in Kharkiv on Saturday.

Ms Tymoshenko is the arch-rival of President Viktor Yanukovych and her arrest in 2011 and conviction on charges of abuse of power were claimed as political revenge by opposition supporters.

It comes after protesters claimed full control over the city of Kiev and key allies of Ms Tymoshenko were appointed to interim roles by MPs during an emergency session of parliament.

Police have abandoned posts around the capital and protesters held the presidential office.

Opposition leaders have called for the president to stand down immediately and urged early elections to take place before May 25.

President Viktor Yanukovych is reported to have left Kiev, with his residence in the capital unguarded and journalists able to enter the building freely, according to the Interfax news agency.

A close ally said he had no intention of leaving Ukraine. Hanna Herman said he was visiting Kharkiv, a city in the east of Ukraine which is the heart of his support.

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